And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
1 Peter 5:10
This is the only New Testament passage that directly speaks of God’s desire to do restorative work. And it is such a great promise! Restoration is much more prominent in the Old Testament where my recent studies have found over forty-five usages in the ESV as God does a work in Israel with the word “restore”. This is due to the uniqueness of the Old Covenant and the curses of the Law that demanded punishment and then restoration after Israel’s failures to keep the Law.
In the New Testament we have no such stipulations since Jesus has fulfilled the Law and His sacrifice once-for-all now restores us completely with a New Covenant written in His blood. There is, however, this passage in 1 Peter related to restoration after Christians go through persecution or suffering. And it is very significant. God, in grace, will restore us from seasons of sorrow and suffering. And this restoration is accomplished and lasts forever in the work of Jesus! It isn’t about our relationship with Him, but about our own emotional and spiritual health.
In Jesus my Lord, I am restored, confirmed, strengthen, and established beyond the worst pains and sorrows I will know. This is true. I experience it even now. God ordains seasons of pain and suffering to do His God work so that this kind of restoration will bring Him glory as Jesus reigns over me. Thank You, Lord, for such restoration!
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