Blog post September 10, 2026

What do you think of when you hear the word restores?

Psalm 23:3 says He restores my soul.

One of my brothers had a classic Chevy car, it was either a 1955 or 1957, and he had it restored. He spent a lot of money trying to return it to its former days of glory, when it just rolled off the showroom floor. He was never completely satisfied because there were areas that were just not the same.

I'm not sure that's what Psalm 23:3 has in mind. What would we get restored to since we've never known anything but a sinful nature?

I like the idea that restore can also mean given back to its rightful owner.

As we have all experienced, sin separates. It separates us vertically and horizontally. As our Good Shepherd, Jesus laid down His life to restore us. Meaning to buy us back or redeem us. To bring us back to our rightful owner. To restore us positionally.

Sin fractures. Shame scatters. Fear distorts. Jesus stepped into that damage and dealt with it at the root. So we are not permanently defined by our failures. We are never too far gone. Resurrection power does not stop at forgiveness.... It restores.

Psalm 23 is a great Psalm. We find comfort in it. It has been memorized and recalled at various time when comfort and strength are needed, yet it is the idea of Christ restoring me that I find especially comforting. Buying me back from that which has stolen me away. Now litlle by little I (we) are being made new. Our restoration will be complete one day in that sense, and it will be wonderful.

Heavenly Father thank You for Your Restoration. Thank you for buying Your children back with Your own precious blood. Thank you for defeating sin and death and for continuing to do a work of restoration in us day by day. Thank you that Christ's resurrection power does not stop at forgiveness but it completely restores us. In Jesus name. AMEN AMEN