Embracing Restoration: Hope in Every Season

Devotional

Day 1: Rejoicing in Each Day as God's Gift

"This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." This simple yet profound truth reminds us that every day, regardless of our circumstances, is a gift from God. Even in seasons of waiting, pain, or uncertainty, we are invited to rejoice—not because every moment is easy, but because God is present in each one. Choosing to rejoice is an act of faith, a declaration that God is sovereign over the rain, the wind, and the seasons of our lives. As we begin each day, let us remember to receive it with gratitude and trust, knowing that God is at work in ways we may not yet see. [29:03]

Psalm 118:24 (ESV)
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Reflection: What is one specific way you can choose to rejoice in God’s presence today, even if your circumstances are difficult?

Day 2: Restoration Is Coming—God Will Make All Things New

The ache for restoration is something every heart knows—whether through broken relationships, weary bodies, anxious minds, or the sting of loss. Yet, God promises a day when He will make all things new, wiping away every tear and ending pain, mourning, and death forever. This hope is not wishful thinking but a sure promise secured by Christ. In the midst of our longing, we can hold fast to the truth that God is not just patching up the old but bringing about a complete renewal of creation. Let this promise fill you with hope and anticipation for the day when Christ will set everything right. [34:34]

Revelation 21:1-8 (ESV)
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Reflection: Where in your life do you most long for restoration, and how can you bring that longing honestly before God today?

Day 3: The Danger of Spiritual Complacency

It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking we have arrived in our faith, that we no longer need to grow, learn, or be discipled. Yet, this mindset leads to stagnancy, complacency, and pride. The truth is, every believer—no matter how long they have walked with Christ—remains a work in progress until the day we see God face to face. We are called to continually pursue growth in biblical literacy, theological understanding, and spiritual disciplines. Let us humbly recognize our ongoing need for God’s transforming work and commit ourselves to never stop growing in Him. [33:13]

Philippians 3:12-14 (ESV)
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Reflection: In what area of your faith have you become complacent, and what is one step you can take this week to pursue growth?

Day 4: The Power of Community and Prayer in Seasons of Waiting

When we walk through seasons of pain, waiting, or uncertainty, the prayers and encouragement of the church community become a lifeline. God often carries us through the storms of life by surrounding us with others who pray, support, and walk alongside us. In times when we feel exhausted or unable to move forward, it is the grace of Christ and the prayers of the saints that sustain us. Let us not underestimate the power of praying for one another and being present in each other’s struggles, trusting that God works through His people to bring comfort and hope. [29:03]

James 5:16 (ESV)
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

Reflection: Who is someone in your church community you can encourage or pray for today, especially if they are in a season of waiting or hardship?

Day 5: Worship as a Response to God’s Promises

True worship is more than singing; it is a response of the heart to the greatness and goodness of God, especially as we see His promises unfold in Scripture. When we read passages like Revelation 21, our hearts should be stirred to awe, hope, and adoration for the One who sits on the throne and declares, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Worship is seeing Christ more clearly and letting that vision fill us with peace, wonder, and longing for His return. Let us approach God’s Word with expectant hearts, ready to worship Him for who He is and what He has promised. [37:31]

Psalm 95:6-7 (ESV)
Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

Reflection: How can you intentionally turn your reading of Scripture into an act of worship today, allowing God’s promises to move your heart to praise?

Sermon Summary

This morning, we gathered to rejoice in the God who is sovereign over every season, every storm, and every moment of our lives. I shared a personal testimony of how the prayers and encouragement of this church family have carried Cal and me through the long, difficult journey of infertility. Your love and intercession have been a tangible expression of Christ’s grace, sustaining us in moments when we felt we could not go on. We are now celebrating the gift of new life, and I am deeply grateful for the way you have walked with us. This experience has reminded me of the power of community and the necessity of bearing one another’s burdens as we wait for God’s restoration.

We also looked ahead to our upcoming discipleship class, emphasizing that spiritual growth is not just for new believers but for every follower of Christ. No one has “arrived” in their faith; complacency is a danger for all of us. The new curriculum, Deep Discipleship, is designed to deepen our biblical and theological literacy and to form us in spiritual disciplines. It’s an invitation for all of us to pursue Christ more intentionally, regardless of where we are on our journey.

Turning to Revelation 21:1-8, we focused on the theme of restoration. The ache for restoration is universal—felt in our bodies, our relationships, our minds, and our souls. We live in a world that is groaning for things to be made right. The promise of Revelation 21 is that God will not merely repair what is broken; He will make all things new. The vision John receives is not just about a future hope, but a present encouragement: God’s ultimate plan is to dwell with His people, to wipe away every tear, and to banish death, mourning, and pain forever. This is the culmination of history, the fulfillment of every longing for wholeness and peace.

Restoration is not just a theological concept; it is the heartbeat of the Christian hope. In Christ, we are promised a future where every trace of sin and brokenness is erased, and we are made new along with all creation. This hope should lead us to worship, to perseverance, and to a deeper longing for the day when Christ will return and set everything right.

Key Takeaways

1. The prayers and encouragement of the church are not just kind gestures—they are a means by which God sustains His people through seasons of suffering. When we feel unable to move forward, it is often the intercession of others that carries us, reminding us that we are never alone in our struggles. The body of Christ is designed to bear burdens together, making tangible the grace of God in our lives. [29:03]
2. Spiritual growth is a lifelong journey, and the greatest danger is believing we have “arrived.” Complacency leads to stagnancy and pride, while humility keeps us open to transformation. No matter how long we have walked with Christ, there is always more to learn, more to surrender, and more to become as we are shaped into His likeness. [33:13]
3. The promise of restoration in Revelation 21 is not just about fixing what is broken, but about complete renewal. God’s plan is not to patch up the old, but to create something entirely new—a new heaven and a new earth where sin and its effects are utterly removed. This is the culmination of redemption, where every longing for wholeness finds its answer in Christ. [34:34]
4. The ache for restoration is a universal human experience, felt in every area of our lives. Whether it is physical pain, relational brokenness, mental anguish, or the grief of loss, these longings point us to the ultimate hope that God will one day wipe away every tear. Our present suffering is not the end of the story; it is a signpost pointing us to the day when Christ will make all things new. [37:31]
5. The vision of God dwelling with His people is the heart of our hope. The restoration God promises is not just about a perfect place, but about perfect presence—God Himself living among us, erasing every sorrow and fulfilling every desire. This future reality should fuel our worship, our perseverance, and our longing for Christ’s return. [40:50]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - God of the Seasons and Psalm 118
[02:10] - Personal Testimony: Infertility and Community
[06:30] - The Power of Prayer and Encouragement
[08:50] - Discipleship at PCC: Vision and Invitation
[12:20] - Introducing Deep Discipleship Curriculum
[15:40] - Why Lifelong Growth Matters
[18:30] - Registration and Practical Details
[21:00] - Who Needs Discipleship?
[23:10] - The Danger of Complacency
[25:00] - All Things New: Turning to Revelation 21
[29:00] - The Ache for Restoration
[32:00] - Reading Revelation 21:1-8
[34:30] - God Will Restore the World
[37:30] - Longing for Christ’s Return
[40:50] - Complete Renewal, Not Just Repair

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Revelation 21:1-8 (ESV) — Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Observation Questions

According to Revelation 21:1-4, what are some of the specific things that God promises to remove or make new in the new heaven and new earth?
In the sermon, what personal experience did the pastor share to illustrate the importance of the church’s prayers and encouragement? [29:03]
What does the passage say about God’s presence with His people in the restored creation?
How does the sermon describe the difference between God “repairing” what is broken and God making “all things new”? [40:50]

Interpretation Questions

Why might the promise that God will “wipe away every tear” be so significant for people who are suffering or longing for restoration? [37:31]
The pastor mentioned that the ache for restoration is universal, felt in our bodies, relationships, minds, and souls. How does Revelation 21 address these different kinds of brokenness? [34:34]
The sermon warns about the danger of complacency in our spiritual lives. Why is it important for believers to keep growing, according to both the sermon and the passage? [33:13]
What does it mean that the ultimate hope of restoration is not just a perfect place, but God’s perfect presence with His people? [40:50]

Application Questions

The pastor shared how the prayers and encouragement of the church carried him and his wife through a difficult season. Can you think of a time when the support of others helped you keep going? How can you be that support for someone else right now? [29:03]
The sermon emphasized that spiritual growth is a lifelong journey and that no one has “arrived.” Are there areas in your faith where you have become complacent or stopped growing? What is one step you can take this week to pursue growth? [33:13]
Revelation 21 promises that God will make all things new and remove every trace of pain, death, and sorrow. How does this future hope affect the way you handle present struggles or disappointments? [37:31]
The pastor described the ache for restoration as something we all feel. Where do you most feel that ache in your own life right now—physically, relationally, mentally, or spiritually? How can you bring that longing to God in prayer? [34:34]
The vision of God dwelling with His people is at the heart of our hope. How can you cultivate a deeper awareness of God’s presence in your daily life, even as you wait for the ultimate fulfillment of this promise? [40:50]
The new discipleship class is an invitation to grow in biblical and theological literacy and spiritual disciplines. What is one area—Bible knowledge, theology, or spiritual practice—where you want to grow this season? What’s a practical way to start? [33:13]
The sermon says that our present suffering is not the end of the story, but a signpost pointing us to the day when Christ will make all things new. How can you encourage someone else who is suffering to hold on to this hope? [37:31]

Sermon Clips

Let me just say this pastorally now. The main Christians I worry about are the Christians who think they have made it. These are the main ones I worry about. The ones who are like, I don't need any more theological training. I've been doing it my whole life. I don't need more discipleship. I've done so many discipleship. I don't need to know the Bible more. The only Christians that terrify me are those who think they have made it, because you know what that leads to? Stagnancy, complacency, and pride. [00:33:13] (26 seconds) #BewareSpiritualComplacency

I actually went through our entire church database. There's a lot of you, and I wrote down all the people who don't need to grow anymore in their faith, and this was the list. That's the list I came up with there. And so, it's blank. It's blank. And so, that's everybody. That's all of us. It's something that we all can commit to. [00:33:47] (15 seconds) #NoOneIsTooMatureToGrow

As I've already mentioned, Cal and I have been walking through the tumultuous road of infertility for a little over four years now, and we have waited, we have prayed, we have wept, we have hoped, and in that, we have longed for maybe more than anything else, just restoration for God to make something new, for things that feel broken or incomplete to be made whole again, and I know that we're not the only ones in this room who feel that same ache. [00:35:30] (23 seconds) #LongingForRestoration

I really hope you came ready to hear from the Lord. I hope you came ready to just have your mind blown by what Christ has done for us and what he has secured for us. [00:40:01] (15 seconds) #ReadyToBeTransformed

This is the better heaven and better earth replacing the old. And so what John is seeing here is the culmination of history. Everything we've longed for, the old broken, sin-scarred world passing away and a new heaven and a new earth are taking its place. [00:41:44] (18 seconds) #CompleteRenewal

So the same way salvation doesn't just patch up your old heart and gives you a new one, God is doing this with all of creation now. In the scripture Ezekiel says that I'll take your heart of stone and I'll give you a new heart of flesh, that's what happened is happening here. God is doing this with all of creation, not just patching it up but giving a new one. [00:42:16] (19 seconds)

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