Nougat 25

Please receive today’s Holy Nougat

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Suffering seems to be a given in the believers’ life. That doesn’t seem to add up, because we believe that our lives are transforming and so only good things should happen to us. Thus we’re shocked when we see differently. True, God’s with us; however it’s also given that trials are coming.

Our task then, is to overcome. And that’s not always easy. Sometimes we don’t even recover on this side of eternity! Or, we might make it through – with a ‘limp’ like Jacob’s.

But Peter, who physically walked with Jesus and was firsthand witness to His betrayal, arrest and crucifixion; the state Peter whom Jesus predicted would also be crucified; assures us that we will suffer ‘a little while’, ie for a season; after which we will experience restoration.

I think of the many bruised and broken believers I know, some of whom are subscribed to this devotional and I have a full moment’s pause. Because it’s not easy to hear or see restoration after the gruesome death of a child on his way home from school; nor after the death of a loved one who suffered; but didn’t get restored to life; and definitely not after a case of rape, incest and other types of assault.

So where does Faith come in, and how does God’s restoration work?

Even as I’m honestly saying I’m not sure; but it could be about Life eternal; I’m seeing a partial image in my mind. It’s of a badly damaged oil painting. The piece actually was a masterpiece by one of the greats that was painted over by a lesser known artist. And yes!, that does happen. The restorer must be equipped with loads of patience as sometimes they have to work with the equivalent of a Q-tip, to carefully apply the correct chemical that will lift off the layer/s superimposed on the original.

It is not always easy to determine if the person/s who painted over had actually placed a protective veneer over the original and if that wasn’t done; rest assured that the new layer most likely will have seeped into the masterpiece in some parts. When that happens, full restoration can be almost impossible.

Could that analogy be an apt one for our lives?

We know that the Restorer of our lives and souls is the best! In fact, we are each a masterpiece created by the Master Restorer. But the layers painted over our lives have damaged us in different ways. Sometimes they seep into our innermost being.

Now having received the image (from God just now), I believe that total restoration occurs when we are received in glory. Because we continue to be painted on by a lesser artist (the enemy of our souls) time and time again until it’s no longer possible.

Again our task is to overcome. We can’t allow the artist to thoroughly paint us out of our picture after the Original Artist has begun to restore us. So, sorry to say it, we endure. But it’s an endurance that includes our original selves being protected by the veneer (ie the anointing) of God’s Spirit and God’s Word; so that God’s glory is revealed through us. We can overcome, by God’s grace.

Have a blessed and anointed weekend.

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May all we seek be found in Christ