Today we consider God’s promise to restore the years the locusts have eaten.
You’re going to learn the ways God restores and 5 steps you can take now to support His restoration.
May this post encourage you to believe that you still have a double portion in your future on earth, even if you’ve been ill for many years. I pray faith will rise and excitement will set in.
“I will restore to you the years the locusts have eaten” Joel 2:25
For some, coping with illness is only part of the problem.
WHAT IS DOUBLE RESTORATION?
When I was around 6 years old, I split my chin open. Whilst I don’t remember this much, I do remember mum taking me to the toyshop afterwards. She wanted to make up for all the her child had suffered.
In fact, every time the nurse redressed the wound in the weeks that followed, we came home via the toyshop.
My mum, like most parents, wanted to bless me generously to make up for the pain the injury had caused.
Our Father in Heaven wants to make up for all our trouble here on earth. He promises that there will be a benefit and that we’ll be better off as a result of the trouble.
Isn’t it interesting that I genuinely have little memory of the accident but plenty of memories about the toyshop!
This is double restoration, or The Spoils of War; the profits or prizes awarded upon winning a battle.
RESTORATION IN REDEMPTION
When Adam and Eve walked in the garden, they had everything including eternity. When they sinned, this was lost and the whole of mankind with it.
4000 years later Jesus is crucified and resurrected. But what God gained in redemption far exceeds what He lost at Creation.
By His Spirit, God is now at home on the inside of us, directing, loving and leading us from within. Adam and Eve never experienced the intimacy we as children of God have.
When we experience salvation, we get a new life. We were once lost, now found. Poor, now rich. Dead, now alive in Christ Jesus.
Our Father restores us back to Himself. A new life replaces the old. This in itself, is our restoration.
RESTORATION IN OUR PERSONAL LIVES
God knows everything you’ve lived without or missed out on. You can trust Him to restore double in those areas.
Oftentimes, those around us probably don’t even see it but it is God who restores not man. Sometimes people have a fixed view of what loss is.
So for some, underneath the physical limitations, is the torment of going through life alone with no life partner or children, the loss of career, finances, holidays, health; even the loss of hopes and dreams.
Loss can be a cruel companion.
The life that was once ahead of you no longer exists and you feel robbed.
If you relate to this, take a read of THE ENEMY COMES TO KILL, STEAL AND DESTROY.
The thought that God will restore the years the locusts have eaten, is so encouraging for anyone going through years of chronic illness.
NATURAL RESTORATION
Not all restoration is supernatural.
Let me give you an example:
Let’s say you are in a wheelchair, unable to walk for 10 years. Then either through doctors or even by way of some kind of supernatural intervention, you are now able to walk.
Imagine how this feels and the transformation it has on your world.
I can guarantee the appreciation you have for your ability to walk is greater than what the rest of us experience. I call this natural restoration.
Here are some tips on how to do your part to receive double restoration from God:
1. RECOGNISE GOD’S LEGAL OBLIGATION
In the Old Testament, under the law of restitution, you could expect to gain back 120% of the value of stolen goods ( (Ex 22:1))
At the cross, Jesus became our trespass offering.
This means that anything the enemy takes away from us, like our health, God has a legal obligation to restore back to us so we end up better off.
Because of this, you can be confident that your future is awesome. If you’ve lost years due to illness, you’ll receive 120% more back in quality or even quantity.
2. KNOW GOD’S TRACK RECORD
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JOB’S DOUBLE PORTION
If you remember the story, Job lost everything; his children, his businesses and his health.
Fast forward to the end of the story, we see how God restores the years the locusts have eaten. “the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.” Job 42:10
This is awesome for those of us who are living in a place of loss right now. Rather than allowing loss of life to consume you, dwell upon the promises of double restoration.
I don’t for a second mean stick your head in the sand and ignore feelings. I just mean, elevate the promises of God despite your feelings.
“So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten…”
Joel 2:25
God is no respecter of persons, what He did for Job, He will do for you as well.
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JOSEPH WENT FROM THE PIT TO THE PALACE
My favourite Bible character is Joseph, sold into slavery as a boy who lost it all; his home, family and freedom.
Fast forward to later on in the story, we see an amazing leader, 2nd in command to Pharaoh. God had restored double and these were his spoils of war.
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KING JEHOSEPHAT AND THE VALLEY OF BLESSINGS
Likewise, it looked as though King Jehosephat and his men were about to lose in battle, but in obedience to God, they sang praises to his name, ensuring their victory against the enemy.
After the battle, they went into the battlefield and gathered the spoils of war. “There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it”
They called this battlefield, the Valley of Beracah (blessing). 2 Chr 20:25-26
When God restores he restores plus blessings.
Maybe you’ve been unwell for a long time so have lost many years. Perhaps the illness you’re dealing with has cost you your career, your finances or your family?
Maybe you’ve lost your self-esteem or dignity. You may even have lost your hope and your dreams.
God promises to bring you to a higher place, a greater blessing, a double portion, so you’ll be better off.
3. BELIEVE YOU’RE A PRISONER OF HOPE
Oftentimes, we want to protect ourselves and ‘think reality’ by not getting our hopes up. This isn’t faith. Faith requires positive imagination in the right direction.
Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.
Zech 9:12
You may feel right now trapped in a prison of hopelessness and ill-health, but God says you’re actually a prisoner of hope.
He sees your future, he sees all the good things he has in store.
We can expect our world to get brighter and brighter, not because of our goodness but because of what Jesus has done for us.
The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
Pro 4:18
This means we can get excited that God will restore the years the locusts have eaten. Always expect greater and walk in that belief. Our cooperation starts with enlarging our thinking.
He’s a great big God which means we have permission to honour his greatness for believing something outrageous.
4. IDENTIFY AND BREAK YOUR CEILINGS
The name Jabez means pain.
It’s easy to allow our circumstances to restrict us; to allow what we had no control over to dominate us. Jabez believed that God was good and asked that he would restore double any damage his name had caused him.
He prayed ‘Lord will you bless me indeed….’ and God honoured his prayer. 1 Chr 4:9-10
Genesis 50:20 tells us that what the enemy meant for harm, God turns around for good. Our challenge is to not allow our circumstances to contain us.
This will stop us from believing God for increase.
I think one of my biggest limitations is the length of time I’ve been living with symptoms. Seeing each day as a fresh day irrespective of the past is difficult.
Is there a ceiling on your healing?
5. PRAY FOR OTHERS
God restores Job’s losses as soon as He prayed for those who had hurt him. If you remember the story, Job’s friends had accused him of causing his own suffering.
I also experienced this from people in my world.
I wonder what would happen if Job didn’t forgive or pray for his persecutors?
Is there anyone in your life who you can extend forgiveness to? Who can you pray for?
EARTH OR HEAVEN?
You may be wondering if our restoration is for now or for when we enter heaven. Personally, I do believe it’s God’s will for us to experience our double portion here on earth.
But I also believe that, for some people, their restoration is in the next life.
Think of babies that die, those who live with long term learning disabilities or those who, for whatever reason, don’t receive their healing on earth.
I do like to think that God will take this into account once we reach the next life. God is a fair God and He loves to come through for His children.
Just think how different your life would be if focused your attention on your double portion. Remember that God is a “God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.”
Get a feel for those blessings you are yet to receive.
My church pastor once said ‘the depth of the pit, prophesies the height of the platform’ so the next time you’re overwhelmed by the pain of loss, could you switch your thoughts to the truth that God will restore the years the locusts have eaten?
Have you lost your joy? God wants to give you double the amount of joy in return. Did you lose your peace? Allow God to restore to you double the amount of peace.
This is God’s heart; to bless you more than you can ask, think or imagine. Eph 3:20
I pray this has encouraged you today.
Which areas are you believing God for restoration? Do you know anyone else who has received a double portion? I pray God will restore the years the locusts have eaten for all who are reading this.
Every blessing
Lorna x
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