‘The Repair Shop’ is one of the most popular programmes on the BBC. Nestled deep in the British countryside it’s a ‘workshop’ where a team of Britain’s most skilled and caring craftspeople rescue and restore items their owners thought were beyond saving. Together they transform priceless pieces of family history and bring loved, but broken treasures, and the memories they hold back to life.
It seems that no ‘restoration job’ is beyond the expertise of the experts.
And in a disposable/throw-away society what could be better than seeing something restored to its former glory!
Many people feel that their lives are broken. The challenges and pressures of life, especially this year, have brought many to breaking point, and sadly many are feeling like some of the items in the TV programme, in desperate need of restoration.
I was reminded of David’s word’s in Psalm 51. David had been ‘found out’ after his adulterous affair with Bathsheba and in Psalm 51 comes to God in repentance. In verse 12 David asks God to ‘Restore to me the joy of your salvation’; and in verse 8 he says, ‘Oh give me back my joy again; you have broken me’…David isn’t blaming God, but acknowledging that he himself has messed up and is need of being restored by God. David acknowledges in verse 17 that as he comes to God ‘broken and repentant’, God will not reject him or turn him away, but lovingly restore him.
In John 21, in another ‘post-resurrection’ appearance to His followers, we read of Peter’s ‘restoration’. Just a few days previous, Peter had denied His Lord, and now Jesus speaks to Peter. But notice that Jesus doesn’t reprimand Peter for what he had done, but lovingly restores him to his place of leadership.
As Jesus restored Peter, He wants to restore each of us – no matter how ‘broken’ we might feel. Many, because of the events of this year, are feeling ‘broken’. Aspirations, plans and dreams have been shattered and at best put on hold. Emotionally, mentally and spiritually many are feelings that their lives are falling apart around them through no fault of their own. Yet Jesus lovingly comes alongside to restore, encourage, support and guide us.
I’m reminded of the words from the old hymn, ‘Praise my soul the King of Heaven’ – we are ‘Ransomed, Healed, RESTORED, Forgiven’……… no wonder the hymn-writer encourages us to ‘Praise Him, Praise Him, Praise the Everlasting King’!!
If you feeling in need of restoration allow Jesus to mend the broken pieces of your life.