He restores my soul. Psalm 23:2

What does it mean to restore something?

When we think of that word, we often think of restoring an old vehicle, house or piece of furniture. There are multiple television shows about restoring “vintage” items or homes.

People go to great pains to try to make the item just as it was long ago. They spend money, time and effort to make the items beautiful again, to make it “like new”.

To restore something is to bring it to its former glory or position. It means to repair, rebuild, fix, mend, remodel or overhaul.

However, restoring a soul is something man cannot do. God is the only One Who can restore our souls.

There’s a reason David used the term shepherd for God. It was something that he knew. Something he understood well. There is also a reason Jesus spoke of Himself as the Great Shepherd, referring to us as sheep.

Sheep are dumb.

He restores us when we stray and when we are exhausted.

* When we stray. No animal strays more than a sheep or is harder to find its way back on its own. We like sheep have gone astray (Isaiah 53:6) and are still prone to do so; to leave the right way. But when God shows us our errors, we repent, and He brings us back again, He restores our souls; and if He did not do so, we would wander endlessly and be undone. Sometimes that process is slow because we are full of pride and want to live life our own way. But God is always there gently poking us with His staff to guide us home.

* When we are exhausted. There are times when we feel we just can’t take another step, when we are physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted. Are you exhausted today? Do you feel like life has beaten you down to the point to where you are just “done”? Take heart. Our loving, merciful, omnipotent Father is waiting to restore your soul and lift you up out of the muck (Psalm 40:2)

—by Pam Rehbein