“Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right[b] spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from your presence,
and do not take your holy spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and sustain in me a willing[c] spirit.” Psalm 51:10-12
Restoration is hard work. Several years ago, I discovered joy in restoring furniture. It began with a child’s rocking chair and continued with restoring my husband’s childhood desk. Perhaps the draw to the process lies in my passion to see beauty recovered. I envision the potential: both in furniture and people.
Restoration is hard work. It begins with sanding off the fragments of finish scattered about the surface. Hours of work result in me taking on the mess. My hands bear a rough texture; the furniture’s surface bears a smooth one. Sawdust abounds but the piece is clean from the damp cloth brushed over it. As the wood dries, sweat drips from my brow.
Restoration is hard work. Holding the vision of what lies ahead but it motivates me. Eventually, knobs are replaced. Wood glue will be applied. A fresh coat of stain will cover the entire piece. A protective sheen completes the final touch. And new life commences.
Throwing the piece out was never an option. Because it carries a story. Restoration allows it to retell the story every time someone encounters it.
I am grateful for my God who is in the business of restoration. According to one definition, the Biblical meaning of restoration is: “to receive back more than has been lost to the point where the final state is greater than the original condition. The main point is that someone or something is improved beyond measure.” (Newcalvarydeliverance.org)
Restoration is hard work. It’s the reason Jesus asks people, “Do you want to be made well?” before they are healed.
So I embrace Psalm 51as a prayer. May God sand, coat, and remind me of His protection in these times of needing to be made new. It’s part of recovering the beauty in my soul. Restoration is hard work but God willingly takes on the mess. He holds the vision of what lies ahead. May I sustain a willing spirit as the process ensues.
How are you in need of restoration?
This post is written for the Five Minute Friday Writing Community. Come join us! http://fiveminutefriday.com/
I don’t want the work, but I want the restoration. Thanks for the reminder that they go hand-in-hand!
Restoration is indeed hard work.
“So I embrace Psalm 51as a prayer. May God sand, coat, and remind me of His protection in these times of needing to be made new. It’s part of recovering the beauty in my soul. Restoration is hard work but God willingly takes on the mess. He holds the vision of what lies ahead. May I sustain a willing spirit as the process ensues.
How are you in need of restoration?”
I answered your question before I read your post. Thank you for sharing your story. I love that we have some kindred thought processes on the one word – restore.
Visiting you happily from #51 on the link up. Late, but not too late.
~Lisa