We may not fully understand it – in fact, I doubt we really can fully understand – yet I believe it is true: God desires to take that which is broken and restore it. In fact, He seems to prefer restoration to replacement. What do I mean by that? Time and time again, God has documented examples in both the Old and New Testaments of scriptures that reveal that God has taken a person – or even at times a whole group of people and restored them rather than destroy and/or replace them. As God is completely capable of doing both, it is a bit amazing to me that this path is the one that God chooses. It seems harder. More challenging.
By no stretch of the imagination is this even the equivalent or a close proximation to the depth of what I believe God does in people, but in many ways, this is a similar task that has been a part of my career. In many ways, I am to take a damaged and broken young person and give my best effort to try and restore or offset their baggage, deficits, and poor behavioral choices by teaching them replacement behaviors. For so many of them, the tapes in their minds are horrible. Their self-worth and image are poor. They have no idea of their value and potential because they have often not been treated as if they hold much. Many of these children have broken homes, broken hearts, but even more damaging – broken spirits.
I find it interesting in reading God’s word that God rarely seems to use or reveal himself to those who had their “act together.” It’s not that He couldn’t. It’s not that there aren’t those amazing people who are mentioned in the Bible as pillars of faith and obedience to God whom He used in great ways. I think of Mary, whose job was to raise the Son of God here on earth. (Talk about responsibility!) I think of Job and Daniel, both of whom were right with God and living for Him when they were persecuted. Neither man straying from the One who could and would save them. They give us hope and encouragement to remain faithful.
But let’s be real. Most of the people God used in great ways – the Bible names we know – did not always demonstrate such character traits. They were men and women with pasts. They were men and women with baggage. They were broken. They were far from perfect. Yet God saw in them a reason to invest. He saw an available heart. He saw the potential before them. And so rather than create something new separate from them, he created something new within them. He rewrote their tapes. He flipped their hearts and transformed their minds. He took what they had and gave them what they needed.
How does He do that?
“Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your strong, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.” (Ezekiel 36:25-27)
We have to be washed clean from our baggage. We can no longer worship it, or that which has brought us into it. We need hearts that are softened and can receive that which is good and intended to help us – not hardened hearts preventing us from healing and restoration. We are unable to get there on our own accord. We need the transforming help of the Spirit – dwelling within us to help us become new and different people.
Perhaps the best advice I have ever received in regards to shaping behavior in others is the value of developing a relationship. People are impacted through relationships. Just as relationships can bring incredible hurt and damage, they too can be the strongest key to reversing it. Through relationship, you are given a key to speak into the lives of the broken, and give hope. Through relationship, you are able to speak truth and unlock potential into someone else’s life. Relationship leads to restoration. Relationship leads to change.
I don’t see this as different with our Heavenly Father. Our key to being men and women who are no longer stuck in our sin, trapped by our bad choices, questioning our value, purpose, and worth, are all made right through relationships. However, this all hinges on whom we have relationships with – and what relationships we value most. If toxic relationships are our highest priority we will remain stuck, broken, and baggage-laden. If we value holy relationships and spirit-filled positive relationships the most we will be transformed.
Friend, we first and foremost need to focus on our relationships with God. We need to seek Him. Invite Him to transform the brokenness into something beautiful. Something good. He will. He is an expert at doing this. And then, we need to allow God to use us to help others in their transformation process. Filled with the Spirit, we do not do this alone. God uses us, in big and small ways, to bring His light of influence and hope into the lives of others. We, the redeemed, helping shine the light of the Redeemer.
God will restore. He loves to restore and bring about beauty despite our ashes. We need only to invite Him to do so.
Blessings!