Bible Ballistics: BBs #222 A Fortnight Of Thanks-Living #12

I thank God for daughters. That may seem a little strange but I want to thank God for my only daughter and for His faithful work in both of our lives. I thank Him for restoration of relationships that get strained through life, stress, bad choices or conflict. But much like our restoration to God through Jesus Christ and His atoning death for us, God also allows us to realize restored relationships in our personal lives. He returns the “prodigals” not only to their God, but also to their earthly homes and families.

I’m so glad that I can take this time to wish my own daughter a “Happy Birthday” today, but to also praise God for the relationship that God is helping us to share. And for those of you, who are praying for “prodigals”, keep your faith in God– HE does hear and answer prayers, not always when and how we would like, but HE does answer in HIS time and in HIS perfect will.

“Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. 24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. 25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.” Joel 2:23-25

This is one of my favorite passages in scripture, and while the context speaks to Israel and her future, I think we can take great comfort in the application to those of us who love the “prodigals”. While some have left due to their poor choices, some have left because of our own poor choices, but God assures us that He is working on our behalf even when we have blown it terribly. Even when God has had to discipline us personally, His ultimate goal is to restore us to Himself, and He desires that we also experience restoration in our broken relationships. Take heart dear friend—God is at work on your behalf.

“The Lord hath done great things for us;

whereof we are glad.

4 Turn again our captivity, O Lord,

as the streams in the south.

5 They that sow in tears

shall reap in joy.

6 He that goeth forth and weepeth,

bearing precious seed,

shall doubtless come again

with rejoicing,

bringing his sheaves with him.”   Psalm 126:3-6

What great confidence—God honors our tears with harvests of joy and “re”joicing! And He doesn’t waste one tear!

“Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?” Psalm 56:8

My dear friends—no matter the difficulty of your sorrow, God is at work! Look up, trust in His grace and mercy, and press on in faith and hope. God has a plan.

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16

So as I wish my dear daughter a Happy Birthday, I thank God for all He is doing to accomplish His purpose in us. And if you have a “prodigal”– pray on, press on and pursue godliness. Our God is the God of restorations. Keep on asking, seeking and knocking!!! Jesus IS the door!!!