The God Who Gives Back

God, your God, will restore everything you lost. Deuteronomy 30:3 The Message Bible

Good Morning Girlfriends:

Seventeen years ago I scrambled to bring my three children to safety, as our house burned away waiting for the fire trucks to come. Being whisked off by neighbors who took us to our hospital to be checked for smoke intake, God was already on the scene when He sent those wonderful people to step right in. Not having anywhere to go, a dear dear friend of mine took me and my three girls in to stay with her in her home with her three children, what a "full house" that was, just like the t.v. show. Seven weeks we stayed there, as we combed the newspaper looking for apartments that might be available, but being the first of February there was none to be had.

During this time, we had lost our home, all of our belongings, every one of our precious cats, pictures, Christmas presents and not only that, I was without a husband. Seven weeks flew right by, when my parents had called saying they had found a place for the girls and I and it was in a good price range so we grabbed it while we could. It certainly wasn't what I was looking for or what I was hoping for, but boy was I ever thankful, and it was something that I knew I would be able to afford and pay off on my own.

Paint went on every wall and ceiling, wall paper and border decorated walls as well, shelves were built in closets and a little front entry way was added, we were ready to make the transitional move. My sweet friends had a shower for us, where people in the community gave money and gifts to get us back on our feet so that we were ready for our new start in our life. God is so good, we had everything we needed to start all over and we were thrilled to be able to say our family was safe and together as a family unit.

In 2 Kings 8, we read about the Shunammite woman whose son died and the prophet Elisha brought him back to life, this woman had to leave her home because of a famine that was coming into the land. She as well had to leave her home, what she had known and move to an unknown place. Sometimes when we go through something like this, we feel like it is a reduction in life, but that is when God can do some of His best work in us, so He can bring out spiritual maturity in us. It is in those times that we are in a learning process as God takes us through our famine time.

After the seven year famine was over, the Shunammite woman returned to her home land to petition the king to restore her house and land back to her. When she went to make her plea to the king, Elisha's servant was already there telling the king of all the miracles that Elisha had done for the woman. Just as God schedules famine in our life, He also has an appointed time to restore, a time for returning everything back that we've lost. After the king had heard her case, he granted her petition to give her back her home and land, plus everything that would have been hers had she have been there to tend her fields, 2 Kings 8:6.

Girlfriends, remember what God did for Job, He gave back up and above what he had lost from the beginning, he had double the amount of everything he had once owned. That's the God we serve, He gives back with interest. Remember this, if there is any time that you have to give up a certain job, a home, a spouse, an income, God knows what has happened, He sees it all and He will give you back a hundredfold for your loss, that is His promise found in Matt. 19:29. Yes, sometimes we do have to endure the sting of decrease for a time, but believe you me, we will rejoice in the blessing of increase in God's appointed time.

Just like the Shunammite woman, just like Job, God will give you back so much more than what you had lost or had to walk away from. He will make it up to you with a double portion of all that was forfeited (Isaiah 61:7 AMP). God will give you back a better home, a larger income, a better more loving spouse, He will never end a chapter in your life without a greater payback. My motto is, "The Best Is Yet To Come," so keep going. God always always keeps His promises like it says in Deut. 30:3. The Lord says in Joel 2:25, "I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts."

The same God who did it for Job, for the Shunammite woman is still the same God who will do it for you, because He's not a man that He should lie, Numb. 29:13. The question is, will you trust God at His promises, His word even when you can't see His way?

Let's Pray,

Father God, I praise You Mighty God for this day. I give You glory, for You alone are the one true and living God in which there is no other. Lord, You are the God of restoration, the god who gives back from which was lost. Lord, I lift up each and every person to You that is reading this, that You would restore to that one who has lost that marriage which they held dear, give back to them a person that will be greater and more loving and even more special to them than they could ever think or imagine. Let their love for one another grow deeper than one could ever think possible. Lord, for the one who had to walk away from their home, Lord I ask that You restore to that person a place, a house that would be greater and grander than what they had before. Lord, I pray health , greater health over the one who has endured sickness, strengthen their body to better than before. For the person who endured an emotional rollercoaster ride, Lord restore their mind, body and soul to better than before, let a strength come upon them that will endure anything that is thrown their way, make them a wall to the enemies devices in the Mighty name of Jesus, Amen.

Be blessed dear ones and pass the blessings on. Remember, "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 ESV Thank you in advance for passing this message on.