I’ve been camped out in the book of Isaiah, thanks in part to my daily chronological Bible. I keep thinking about our current cultural and political climate. I keep thinking that we need rescue.

Without trouble, we wouldn’t be in need of rescue.

I look back on the Israelites’ journey. If they didn’t have enemies and exile, they wouldn’t have needed rescue and restoration.

In my Bible there are some added headings in Isaiah 51, 52, and 55 that all catch my eye… The Beauty of Restoration, The Joy of Restoration, The Purity of Restoration, The Certainty of Restoration.

There is beauty, joy, purity, and certainty in God’s restoration.

“Our punishment on Him brought us peace…” – Isaiah 53:5

Our peace was the result of Jesus bearing our punishment. The cross was necessary for our relationship with God to be restored.

Too often we want the promise without the perseverance, the peace without the persecution. But what if they go hand in hand? What if one requires the other?

We don’t need restoration without wreckage.

We don’t need comfort without devastation.

We don’t need refreshment without depletion.

We don’t need refilled without pouring ourselves out first.

Without sin, we don’t need a Savior or salvation.

Without wrongdoing or wrath, we don’t need redemption.

Without a mess, we don’t need a Messiah.

Without darkness, we wouldn’t need light.

Without scars, would we have a story?

Without dead-ends or dread, would we need to dream?

Without hurt and heartbreak, would we need help and healing?

Without work, would we need Sabbath?

Victory requires a battle.

Resurrection requires death.

There are countless contrasts that seem to bring balance and purpose. Loss and love. Tears and joy. Famine and feast. Drought and provision. Gloom and glory. Doubt and praise. Division and unity. Ruin and rebuilding. Brokenness and hope. Turmoil and trust. Bitter and sweet. Rain and sun. Night and day. Silence and speaking. Past and present. Sight and faith. Earth and Eternity.

The bad can intensify the good as we long for something better, as we keep our eyes fixed on the Father. There is a bigger picture to grasp, a lifelong process to be engaged.

Maybe we need the good and the bad. Maybe the bad things are better labeled as hard things that can point us back to God, to how He turns all things to good. Maybe the hard things make the good things great.

Do we want the garden without the grave? The testimony without the test? The message without the mess, the faith without the work, the trust with the trial, the freedom without the fight? Do we want the masterpiece without the forming of clay, the beauty without the ashes, the diamond without the pressure, the pearl without the irritant, the gold without the refiner’s fire?

Sometimes we want the quick, easy, tidy, comfortable. We want to forego the trouble and claim the trophy. We want to skip the race, show up at finish line, and receive our victor’s crown.

So I’m wrestling with restoration. Maybe we were made for it. Which might mean we were made for some other things as well.

This week’s song suggestions:

• Revival’s in the Air by Bethel Music & Melissa Helser
• Canyons by Cory Asbury
• Rescue by Lauren Daigle