Backstory…
In 2019 as I sat on my mom's bed pouring my out heart to her about my then boyfriend, the Lord interrupted and asked me: "Do you trust Me?" I said: "Yes God, I do." He then said: "Then let him go." For the coming years, I tried my hardest to understand what that meant. What did this: "…let him go" look like? God never told me outright, but I KNEW He desired that a separation happen between myself and my then boyfriend. How long would this last? I had no idea, hence His first question: "Do you trust Me?" In my confusion, we would go about in and out of this relationship for the next few years until December 31st, 2020. I'm not sure how I ended up in this section of the Bible, but these scriptures jumped out at me: “But the Egyptians are mere mortals and not God; their horses are flesh and not spirit. When the LORD stretches out His hand, those who help will stumble, those who are helped will fall; all will perish together (Isaiah 31:3 NIV).” Needless to say, a very healthy FEAR of the Lord HIT ME and I decided I was not going to even test God—I believed this Word spoke to my then situation. I feared that not only was I going to die because I was in the way of what God was trying to do in my then boyfriend’s life in what was for us to have been a season of separation, but that he was in danger of dying as well. I cut off contact until September 2nd, 2021 when he called me using a number I didn't recognize. During this particular year (2021), I spent time heartbroken, breaking, crying...it was rough, y'all. One day during one of these broken and tearful moments, I began to wonder and maybe indirectly asked God some rapid-fire questions. In no time He asked me: "Do you believe I can restore?" It was then that I began to understand that when God asked me questions, He already knew the answers. I believe this question kept me going many of the days when the brokenness (heartsick [Proverbs 13:12]) symptoms began to take over. Here’s Why This Testimony is Important Now…
I'm sharing this not so short testimony with you all because 70 days after my then boyfriend and I reconnected on God's timeline for us, we were married. When God’s appointed time has come, events can happen very quickly (Isaiah 60:22). I'm also sharing because in 2020 He showed me a mental picture of a double-sided arrow where to the left was "Judgement" and to the right was "REstoration". When He asked me in 2021: "Do you believe I can restore?" I'd never had an encounter with Him to where I could without a doubt say, "Yes." After I experienced what He did in a matter of 70 days, when on September 1, 2021 there “seemed” to have been no hope for reconciliation between this man and I, then all of a sudden BAM, my world changes, I live in a new state AND I’m a wife, "Yes, I do believe You can, and do REstore, Lord." Friend, wherever you are today in your journey with God, obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22). There are many grand scale world-changing events that should've already taken place: “What was Supposed to Take 11 Days Will Take 40 Years”, (see this post for more detail). However, God in His mercy is known to grant us more time. He isn't slow in accomplishing what He's said He will do. Although He is GOD ALMIGHTY and can do whatever He chooses to do, He is patient, wishing that no one will perish, but that all would take the opportunity to repent and live (2 Peter 3:9). I'm typing all of this on my phone’s notepad at 2/3am (1/11/23) because I can't shake the sense that God restores and when He does, not only is it BIG, but the cares of the days when suffering seemed relentless just don't even seem to be a thing anymore. For me, it's as if I've forgotten all I'd suffered during that “wait” for my now spouse. It is as if I've been COMPLETELY healed from being heartsick. None of the feelings and thoughts from that time plagues me now. God did it, y'all—He REstored! Let me also remind you of this Truth: for our light and momentary affliction is achieving for us an eternal weight of glory that outweighs them all (2 Corinthians 4:17). The eternal weight of glory here is this: I believe with ALL of my being that God can and does REstore. No one and no event to come can ever take this Truth from me. It is absolute and will last forever. I believe God wants to also have you completely convinced that He can and will certainly do what He has said. Isaiah 55:10-11 NIV reminds us of this: “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, v11 so is My Word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” God does what He says—He never lies (Numbers 23:19). God will do it PUBLICLY... I haven't personally received this Word: "restoration" from Him recently, but I've been seeing and hearing it consistently. I BELEIVE we are at that time when we are going to experience His restoration. When? I am not sure of the second, minute, hour, day, week, month, etc. What I can tell you is I sense its closeness heavily. From my experiences with the enemy's attempts to wear me out (Daniel 7:25), I can almost guarantee that God's restoration for His children isn't too far off because the enemy has seemed relentless in trying to rob me of my faith through life circumstances lately.
"Judgement" <----> "Restoration”
Recall that on the other end of this arrow was "judgement." We've already begun to see this in the natural. People do not just drop dead at the rates to which they are without God at one point or another having given them the opportunity to repent and be saved. Some take the things of God lightly and never decide to live for Jesus because their response is always, "maybe tomorrow." Those dropping dead suddenly don't have tomorrow. As I'm typing this that I now know is a blog post, I am reminded of Damar Hamlin, the 24yr old American football player whose medical diagnosis was a cardiac arrest in the middle of a football game not too long ago. This very public event (it's not unlike God to use major events to communicate with us) was further publicized as many prayed for him on TV and rallied others to do the same. The God Who answered those prayers was the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. He is the same God Who asked me: "Do you believe I can REstore?" He is the same God Who REstored Damar Hamlin's life to where he has been released from the hospital after what the world might've thought was sure death. Glory to God!
An Exhortation...
Now, I say to you: receive the REstoration of the Lord with SPEED! In Jesus' name.
A Plea... Please PRAY for others as God's judgment arrives. God's judgment isn't a bad thing. For some, their bodies will be given over to satan so their souls can be ultimately saved (1 Corinthians 5:5). For others, they've left themselves with no choice as they've decided not to turn away from evil. If you don’t know God, yet here you are reading this, ask Him for the chance to know the real Him. I know without a doubt that He will answer this desire of your heart—He wants so much to have a personal relationship with you. Let this sink in: the God of all creation wants YOUR attention. Finally, "Hang in There." I can't with any certainty tell you all what God's plans are going forward on a grand scale because He hasn't revealed this to me or yet, but He is in the business of saving souls, REstoration, AND judgment. It is not abnormal for all to occur simultaneously. Pay attention. Be encouraged. He hasn't ever forgotten you. He was thinking of how He'd prosper your life even before you existed (Jeremiah 29:11). You aren't a mistake. You aren't a blob that was electrocuted by lightning and hence your existence. You were never an animal that evolved. You aren't any of the lies the enemy has convinced you of. You ARE a child of the Most High God. He wanted you then, He wants you now. He planned you and sculpted you perfectly—you my dear, are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). He numbered the very hairs on your head that He wanted you to have (Luke 12:7). REstoration is in your future if you desire it. God has already made The Way. Be blessed in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth—the Only God Who can and does do it for us all.