One of the most beautiful words in a broken world is the word restore. Facing loss squarely is one of my most significant lessons I’ve learned in grief. In other words, do not diminish loss. Do not sugarcoat it. Loss is horrible. Loss is real.
Face your loss. Let restoration flow over you.
“Lord, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.” Psalm 85:1
We read in 1 Peter 5:10, “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” The Lord was favorable and restored the land and fortunes of Jacob.
“You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin. You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger.” Psalm 85:2-3
Regardless of the loss you’re facing, forgiveness, covered sin, withdrawn wrath, and turning from hot anger is the answer. Brokenness is the problem; restoration is the answer. Favorable. Restored. Or as Peter said—”restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish.” Verse four in this psalm states, “Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us!”
Restoration revisits time and time again.
“Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations? Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?” Psalm 85:5-6
The discipline of lament allows for hard questions. Respectful, but hard and direct. Will God extend his ceaseless anger with abandon? Forever? Will God’s anger visit one generation after the next? Will he not bring restoration? Will he not return joy to his people? “How long?”—it’s a repeated question!
Lament-filled questions are acceptable, even encouraged, as long as you look past the pain and see with trust-filled eyes.
“Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.” Psalm 85:7
Lament moves from complaint to request. If we cannot move beyond complaint it is not true lament. It is not respectful prayer. Faith looks past the complaint to the promise of steadfast love. We cry out in broken times for steadfast love and the joy of salvation.
“Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly. Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land.” Psalm 85:8-9
Complaint and request must lead to listening. There comes a point when, like Job, we stop and listen. Trustingly, he says, “…I lay my hand on my mouth. I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further” (Job 40:4-5).
Let me hear what the Lord will speak!
When we listen in times of turmoil, we hear peaceful proclamations. We are inspired to trust. We are challenged to avoid the folly of disbelief. We recognize that salvation is firm for those who respectfully stand in awe of him.
“Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky.” Psalm 85:10-11
This is pure beauty. Steadfastness and faithfulness meet. If you understand the depth of these two words you will be inspired and blessed. Faithfulness springs up.
Righteousness and peace kiss. If you understand these two words you will be challenged and empowered. Righteousness literally watches over us from above.
Faithfulness and righteousness surround us.
The Lord gives good. The Lord is good. Remember Mark 10:18, “…No one is good except God alone.” Therefore, his righteousness—his goodness—makes a way.
“Yes, the Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. Righteousness will go before him and make his footsteps a way.” Psalm 85:12-13
Read the E-book Facing Loss: Lessons of Hope from My Unwanted Journey