A Promise to Restore

February 7, 2014 by carolinamber 1 Comment

I didn’t plan this.

When I looked at my day, marking off time for this and sections for that, I never put this in there. I never pictured the prayers lifted from this tiny home and the heartache and the tears.

But what do you do when you know he slept in the cold last night with only a sheet to cover his tall frame?

What do you do when you hear the quiver in his voice that speaks of the mistakes and the bad choices?

What do you do when you see a grown man cry because he has nowhere to go, nowhere to stay, nowhere to eat, nowhere to sleep?

He had burned all his bridges and had nowhere to turn.

His entire possessions fit nicely in a small blue tote. The clothes balled up and crammed inside–same as his thoughts about life right now. Disheveled. Messy.

The uncertainty filled the room and when he stepped in the hot shower we had a chance to ask those burning questions as husband and wife. What do we do? How can we help? How can we show him that Jesus loves him more than anything we can ever explain? How will he realize that God is bigger than his circumstances, even now?

The cup of hot coffee with four spoons of sugar seemed to hit the spot after the refreshing shower. The clothes were spinning in the washer and the kids invited him to take his place on the floor for a board game. Nothing will get your mind off of your present troubles like a friendly game of Build a Robot.

I stood in the kitchen taking it all in. I listened to him speak in his best robot voice as my kids giggled and tried to mock him. How could it be that this was his plight? Foster care as a child. Addiction. Homelessness.

There are no facilities in the county to help. Phone calls and pleas and petitions and visits resulted in a hotel tonight provided by the Red Cross and a one hour drive tomorrow to a Christ-centered facility. A place that will love him like Jesus. Perhaps this is a step in the right direction. The next step towards a life-change.

I can still smell the body wash when I walk into the bathroom. It reminds me to pray.

I can still picture the Bible that fell out of the tote when he was pulling out his wrinkled clothes. It reminds me of God’s commands.

Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. (Isaiah 58:7, 10a)

The commands that make you tired and worn out. Mentally exhausted. Physically drained. Emotionally spent. Spiritually dry.

But God didn’t just leave us with a command. He added a promise.

He added a promise!

Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon. (Isa. 58:10b)

Lord, let our light shine so bright in this place. We want to see the darkness be transformed to light.

And another promise…

The LORD will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. (Isa. 58:11a)

We need your guidance, Lord. We are dry today. We are weak today. We have been spent and rely on You as our Source of Living Water.

And another promise…

You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. (Isa. 58:11b)

Lord, allow us to produce fruit and fresh water that blesses your people.

And another promise…

Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes. (Isa. 58:12)

Lord, let it be in Countryside. Rebuild walls. Restore homes. Refurbish this community and return it to you.

Amen and amen.