He Restores My Soul

I often times feel like a wild child whose mind is all over the place. Technology can make it worse. The Lord, our Shepherd is the only one who is able to give us real restoration to our souls, yet I struggle to keep from reaching to other things. If I’m worried, why do I obsess on google or web MD instead of running to the feet of Jesus? When I’m weary, why do I seek a distraction like zoning out on tv or social media or reaching for a glass of wine, instead of running to the throne of grace?

When I’m insecure, why do I seek to find a way to puff myself up instead of falling into the loving arms of Jesus who is my portion and the lifter of my head? The great hymn says, “prone to wander Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love.”

I realized this restoration process is an ongoing development in His great love and grace. He is continually correcting, encouraging, and leading me even in my tendencies to wander. He pulls me back in, and says, “My child, here is where there is true rest.”

As we grow and mature in faith, we should be wandering less often and desiring Him more. Our restoration is threefold; He restored me, He is restoring me, and He will restore me fully.

This life, because of sin, has thorns and trials. We aren’t free from the effects of original sin just because we are in His protection. But being His child does protect us from these things heading into a downward spiral working for our destruction. Instead, God works it for our good and His glory. It is part of the story of our restoration. The valleys we go through are working something in us. They are not meaningless.

The next time we wander off and we hear the Savior’s call, or that loving hand of correction, this is our great Shepherd pulling us back into Himself. The Lord is continuing to restore us. He doesn’t start something that He won’t complete. We don’t serve an incompetent God. He is all powerful, all knowing, merciful and gracious. He knows every hair on our heads. He loves us and He wants us to trust and obey Him.

“being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6