[When I read this article, I so resonated with these gentle, loving, and encouraging words by Jamie Rohrbaugh. I hope and pray they speak to you today, too, in the areas you may need restoration.]
Restore us, O God of hosts;
And cause Your face to shine on us [with favor and approval], and we will be saved.
(Psalm 80:7 AMP)
Yet when [a thief] is found, he must restore sevenfold.
(Proverbs 6:31 NKJV)
I heard the Father say, “I am restoring joy right now from your years of turmoil. The enemy thought he could have his heyday with you in recent years, but I tell you that I am working it all for your good right now—and I am restoring joy from your turmoil. For every way the enemy tried to attack you, I am giving you seven times the blessing and am heaping that blessing back on your head.
“You have been pressed down, but not destroyed. But I tell you now that I am restoring your joy in five ways:
1. The Joy of Creativity
“I am giving you back the creative breath that the enemy stole from you through constant criticism and ‘overwhelm.’ I am restoring life to your creative desires, and I am working through you to create, just as I have done in the past—except stronger.
2. The Joy of Worship
“I am restoring the joy you used to have in My presence in corporate worship. I am pouring out on you a spirit of gratitude that will help you enter into My manifest glory and go deeper in Me.
“Your love for Me never faded, but your ability to enjoy Me around other people had been bound. I have set you free from that, and I am breathing life into your body, soul, and spirit again in worship. As you worship Me more and more, you will find joy bubbling up in your spirit and your belly, the likes of which you have never seen.
3. The Joy of Friendship
“For a long time, you have yearned for true friends, and I tell you now that I am surrounding you with people who love you for who you are, not for who they want you to be. I am restoring the joy of fellowship to you, and you will behold how good and how pleasant it truly is when brethren dwell together in unity.
4. The Joy of Rest
“Rest used to be hard for you, but now you have entered a place and a permanent season in which you are learning that you will never lose anything by resting in Me. So now I tell you that your rest will be sweet, for you are resting in Me in total trust.
“My yoke truly is easy and My burden is light, and there is GREAT joy in that for you. Thank you for receiving My rest as I asked you to do!
5. The Joy of Peace
“Across the years, you have learned that you can have peace in the midst of the storm. But what you have learned recently is that the storm cannot touch you, and you are safe in My hands no matter what.
“Now I tell you that I am giving you such peace and strength, because you have finally learned to trust Me, not just have faith. You believe Me for other people and for yourself, but you also trust Me with your heart. You have learned that you are safe in My arms. I will always preserve you and keep you alive, and you will be blessed on the earth. I go before you and make a way, and nothing shall by any means harm you.
“I tell you these things in My Word, and you have finally learned to believe Me and apply it to yourself. Thank you for believing Me; it brings Me great joy to have a trusting child!
“You have had turmoil many years,” says the Father, “but you are entering a new season of peace.”
He continued: “Your season of weeping is done. You have learned about the love that covers a multitude of sins. You have learned how to rest in Me, no matter what, and you will continue learning that lesson at even greater depths over the next few years. My yoke truly is easy, and My burden light, and in this season there will be joy.
“Yes, things will still be difficult at times, but I will see you through, and you know that now. So I am causing joy to bubble up in your heart again, and you will feel the difference. I tell you that if you pay attention, you will notice that you feel it already.
“So take heed, My beloved child, and know that weeping endured for a night, but it truly is morning and joy is here now!
“This does not mean that you will never struggle, but you have grown so much on the inside that how you handle things and react to things will be different from now on. I am proud of you for this; My delight is in you. You are excelling in all things to which I have set your hand and your heart.
“You are My beloved one in whom I am well pleased. Take joy in Me, for I am pouring out on you the rivers of breath from My Spirit.”
Restoring God,
Set out your light and truth to lead us and bring us to your holiness to dwell with you. We hope in you and wait expectantly for you. All our sources of joy are within you, Lord of Hosts, so we ask you to cause your face to shine upon us with favor and approval. Restore unto us the joy of our salvation. Restore to us the joy of creativity, of worship, of friendship, of rest, and of peace. Repay to us seven times what the enemy has stolen. Pour out your Spirit upon us so we are filled to overflowing with your Light and Life, we ask in Jesus’s name, AMEN.
O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me;
Let them bring me to Your holy hill
And to Your dwelling places.
Then I will go to the altar of God,
To God, my exceeding joy;
With the lyre I will praise You, O God, my God!
Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why are you restless and disturbed within me?
Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall again praise Him,
The [a]help of my [sad] countenance and my God. (Psalm 43:3-5 AMP)
The singers as well as the players of flutes will say, “All my springs and sources of joy are in you [Jerusalem, city of God].” (Psalm 87:7 AMP)
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit. (Psalm 51:12 AMP)