God’s wisdom speaks to us in everything if we will listen and receive. Besides the clarity found in His perfect Word, He plants illustrations of restoration for us to find.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. 

~Romans 8:28 NIV   

Paul expresses a powerful promise of God’s ability to bring good from everything. It is not only His ability, but also His desire and promise to do so. Because He is God, our Father has infinite ways to work good from bad, but one is to bring restoration out of brokenness.  

Three Art Forms

Three lovely art forms show us this miracle in practice. The first two, mosaics and stained-glass windows, take pieces of something broken and create something new, beautiful, and valuable. Sometimes, even better than the original object. How like God to lead us by way of broken fragments, symbolic of our broken lives, and use those pieces to create scenes from the Bible. We gaze at the figures and stories placed in the sanctuary of a church as we worship the Author of those stories, the one who heals us.  

The third form differs a little from the others. Japanese Kintsugi takes a broken vessel and repairs it to its former shape and purpose. However, rather than disguising the cracks, this technique uses gold to accentuate the fracture lines. The result is a pot or vase made even more unique and beautiful by visible veins of gold.

God’s Art

The analogy is clear. Hurtful things fill our world, but we can find hope in any circumstance when we let God work. As He promises, we will see that the trials involved in being restored will cause us to know Him better. They enhance our wisdom, compassion, trust, and strength. Thus, the ripples of our experience spread. We can bless as we’ve been blessed.

God has filled His Word with the theme of redemption and restoration. I’m thankful that He comforts us, His presence is always with us, and He has the power to raise even the dead to life.

Is there a situation that God needs to work together for good in your life? For me, it is stressed and wounded family relationships. A dear one’s shattered faith. Our nation’s future.

God works good in all things. Nothing we go through is wasted.

Father, I praise You that You are mighty and good. You give me hope as You work all things together for good. I ask You to restore what the enemy has damaged to better than it was before. Help me submit to Your will in the process and cause me to come forth in victory—more in love with Jesus and able to love those You bring into my life. All to your glory, Lord. Amen.

 

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2025: Illustrations of Restoration: Caroline Powers: All Rights Reserved.