“Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once more.”
                                                                           Psalm 71:20-21 NIV

RESTORING CARS

Growing up in a Drag Racing family you tend to love cars. Mustangs are my favorite, that’s why I drive one! I grew up seeing so many cars being restored at my dad’s shop. They would come in looking like rusty, old, beat up junkers. The full auto RESTORATION process of a vintage car takes months and sometimes years. From framework to engine work, finishing up with the ever-important paint job; each stage is critical to the finished product.
As a young teen I was so jealous of my cousin Billy. He drove this Metal Flake Blue ’65 Mustang Fastback 2+2. Originally my aunt drove the car, but after they restored the mustang into a gorgeous racecar Billy always had it at the track.
When the time came for him to go to College they just changed the tires and sent him off to school!  (That’s the kind of family I come from.)
Billy’s mustang beside one of my dad’s hot rods. 
 
Quite the RESTORATION job for sure, but the most incredible RESTORATION job to me is the one God has brought about in my life.

RESTORING LIVES

Today I reread the last devotional in my book WATER IN THE DESERT. I was overwhelmed with joy and thankfulness as I read the last scripture used above…Psalm 71:20-21. I have this scripture highlighted in my Bible with a date beside…October 2010.
To my readers, this date would most likely not mean anything but to me, it was a powerful reminder that God is true to his promises. In October 2010 I felt my life was over, completely destroyed. I was struggling to find the desire to live on. You see I had secretly been facing “troubles many and bitter” for so long and the next 10 months would be filled with some of the hardest events I’ve had to endure.
I was at my lowest point, ready to give up on God and His promises when I felt the impact of the words in Psalm 71:20-21. I felt God speaking directly to me that he was going to restore me! In faith I wrote the date beside the scriptures expecting that one day God would fulfill His promise to me, even though it just didn’t seem possible.
I had no idea how quickly God would begin His RESTORATION process in me. From my very framework to the finishing paint job, God didn’t miss a step. He completed a major overhaul! Four years later, I feel altogether restored. Blessed beyond measure! How wonderful that on a day when many are celebrating Thanksgiving here in Canada how my heavenly father would give me such a concrete reminder that He kept His promise, so I could encourage you to trust Him with yours!
Prayer
Father, I thank-you for your faithfulness to restore broken hearts and broken lives. In a world of broken promises, yours stand true. Help me to continue to stand in faith believing that every promise you have made will come true. May my life be marked by the same consistency. In Jesus name…Amen.