Did I mention I’ve been cleaning out my garage? It does seem to be an ongoing, ever present, never ending task, a task that never gets crossed off my to-do list because I’m never finished. I’ve decided there’s a very rational reason that I still have all this “stuff” although much of it probably should be thrown away. If I throw an item away it means I have given up on it. It means I see no value, use or purpose for said item any longer. The item could be worn or broken or stained or outdated, any number of things might be true of a particular item. With clothing, the problem might be only that it is no longer in current fashion or maybe it is missing a button or has a small stain. With mechanical items, maybe they too are outdated or maybe they are simply missing a small but essential component necessary to their proper functioning.

In any case, I hold onto these things because I hold onto hope that they still have some value, some purpose, some use to someone somewhere, and therefore should not be given up on and thrown away. I hold onto the hope that these things, whether toys, clothes, household items, electronics – whatever it is – that they can be repurposed, repaired, restored, rehabilitated to give them a second life – a new life of usefulness to someone who needs whatever the item might be.

I guess I see the possibilities, the potential, the promise in each item and find myself unwilling to give up on any good use of said item in the future. It’s not my fault really, that I hang onto stuff, unwilling to give up on how it could be used and refuse to throw it out with the trash. I come by it naturally, this desire to give a second chance and a third chance and more chances, rather than give up. I get it from my father, my Heavenly Father. God never gives up on me. That’s why giving up is not in my nature either. I am my Father’s child.

I don’t need to give up on myself when I fail despite my oh so good intentions (which is daily) and I don’t need to give up on others either. God doesn’t. Why would I? You and I have this promise from our Heavenly Father –

“being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)

I find those words very reassuring. My Heavenly Father will not give up on me! No matter how broken I am, how many missing parts I have, how old or outdated current culture may think me to be – God sees the potential in me (and you, too). God sees the person He created me to be all along, even though I’m not fully that person yet. God is the master of rehabilitation, of repairing, restoring, repurposing me. My Heavenly Father redeems my life. He does not give up on me and throw me out with the trash. No, He says this to me (and to you, too, dear readers) –

” ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ ” (Jeremiah 29:11)

and God tells us –

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” (Jeremiah 31:3)

my Heavenly Father will never give up on me! (or you either) because He loves you and me and we know that –

“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:7)

God is going to finish what He started in me and in you, too. If you feel you’re in need of some repair, some renewal, some rehab – if you long to be fully and completely restored to what God intended for you all along – take heart. We know this –

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

My Heavenly Father is in the restoration business. He promises you and me this –

“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit in you and move you to follow My decrees and be careful to keep My laws.” (Ezekiel 36:24-27)

I’m so thankful that my Heavenly Father redeems and restores me, rather than giving up on me and throwing me away. This world definitely leaves me with scars. It buffets, batters and burdens me with pain, suffering and loss – things inescapable in this life. BUT – praise God that He doesn’t leave me in the condition in which He finds me – a condition brought on by my sin and by the world in which we live. No, God’s rescue and restoration are wholly undeserved and yet promised to me and to you who believe. God says –

“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten – the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm – My great army that I sent among you. You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will My people be shamed. Then you will know that I am in Israel, that I am the Lord your God, and that there is no other; never again will My people be shamed.” (Joel 2:25-27)

You and I may be suffering much pain and loss currently BUT – I will not give up because God is at work in everything –

“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)

don’t give up – God came to rescue, redeem, repair, repurpose and restore each one of us – His beloved creation – He’s at work in each of us right now and He will not give up on any of us but “will carry it on to completion.” This is my hope.

“And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:10-11)

sincerely, Grace Day