Restoring Our Fragments By Michael Youssef March 20, 2014 Trials, tragedies, and feelings of insecurity have altered the way we live. Over the past few years, many people have asked whether God is really in control. But there is no need to fear. Tragedy and triumph frequently work as partners. As we trust God, we can experience restoration and resurrection as God brings a dying dream to life, heals our broken bodies, and mends our shattered lives. In a beautiful cathedral in Europe, a magnificent stained-glass window towered above the altar. One day a violent storm shattered the resplendent window into a thousand pieces. The church’s custodian hesitated to discard the multicolored fragments of glass. Instead, he put them in boxes and stored them in the church basement. A well-known artist petitioned the trustees of the cathedral for the stained glass fragments. They gave the boxes to him, not knowing his purpose. Two years later, the artist invited the church trustees to his studio where he unveiled his work. To their astonishment, he had re-created the stained-glass window. The restored window looked even more beautiful than the original. Most of us have experienced a blessing in the midst of a blasting storm. If you have been in this situation, or if you are there now, then you may not yet have experienced God’s restoration work. But you will. God specializes in restoring our fragments into something more beautiful and more meaningful. God brings forth beauty from ashes To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. (Isaiah 61:3) “I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him” (Isaiah 57:18) Prayer: God, I trust that You will make something beautiful out of the brokenness I am experiencing. Help me to remember that You specialize in restoration. Amen.
Posted on: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 12:57:43 +0000
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