My Victory Voyage || Restoration

In MY VICTORY VOYAGE I’m sharing the trials I’ve faced and how God’s faithfulness carried me through. Join me on the 2nd Friday of each month in 2025 as we reflect on His restoration and grace.

The past decade has tested my faith and strength, especially through the heartbreak of estranged adult children. Ten Christmases and birthdays have brought deep waves of grief and longing. Yet, through it all, God’s faithfulness has carried me, whispering His promises of restoration and reminding me that no family is beyond His reach.

The Pain of Estrangement

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. ~ Psalm 147:3

To lose connection with a beloved child is a sorrow like none other. The questions, self-doubt, and helplessness can be overwhelming. I’ve asked God why this happened and what can be done to repair it. Yet, deep down my broken heart understands that God’s love for both me and my children is unshakable. I know He sees our pain and holds us tenderly in His loving arms.

God’s Promise of Restoration

I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten… You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied and praise the name of the Lord your God. ~ Joel 2:25-26

The Bible is filled with stories and promises of restoration. The verse above reassures me that no matter how much time has been lost with my children or how broken things may seem today, God has the power to redeem it all and bring about full and complete restoration of our family.

Hope and Encouragement for Parents

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. ~ Romans 15:13

If you are walking a similar path, I want to encourage you with the words of one of my favorite verses above. Even when the future feels uncertain, God’s hope is our solid anchor. He calls us to trust Him, to believe in His timing, and to pray fervently for reconciliation.

Trusting God in the Process

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Restoration is not always immediate, and it may not come how we expect. Through this season, I’ve learned to prayerfully imagine each of my kids physically on my prayer altar, actually in God’s loving hands. This has helped get me through many tough days, weeks, months and years.

The best encouragement came in the last year when my husband and I were reconciled with our son and his young family. It has given us hope for the complete restoration of our entire family in God’s perfect timing.

Moving Forward with Hope

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it. ~ Proverbs 22:6

In the promise above I’m reminded to trust in the seeds of faith that were planted long ago and to leave the outcome in God’s hands, knowing that He is faithful; He sees my heartache, and He is at work in ways I cannot yet see.

My prayer for you, dear reader, is that you too will find hope and healing as you navigate your own journey. May the God of restoration bring peace to your heart and reconciliation to your relationships in His perfect time.

After all we must remember that Love Takes Time…

THE TWELVE STEPS TO VICTORY™ || Step Two || Victory Starts with Believing

In The Twelve Steps to Victory column, we’re reframing the traditional 12 Steps with a focus on victory vs continually looking back at our missteps and failures. Each Step aligns with the months on the yearly calendar. This series publishes on the first Friday of each month in 2025.

We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to victory. ~ Step Two to Victory

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. ~ Ephesians 3:20 (MSG)

This Step emphasizes the importance of believing as the foundation of spiritual victory. Without faith in God’s power, we will miss the opportunity to experience His full restoration in our lives. We have to know deep in our heart that God is with us and for us. And because His Spirit lives in us, He will guide us if we let Him.

It’s vital that we remember the Holy Spirit is very sensitive and can be easily offended by our sinful behavior. If we want the benefits of God’s power working in our lives, it’s important that we guard our hearts and actions so that the Holy Spirit will stay with us. (See Ephesians 4 for a deeper study on this.)

A great quote from one of my favorite ministers says:

“The glory of God resting on an unsanctified life will crush it. The glory of the Lord resting on a sanctified life establishes it.” ~ Bill Johnson

In other words, if our life isn’t purposely set apart for God’s use with a deep belief in Him, His glory will crush us because our faith isn’t mature and strong enough to handle His power working in our lives. But on the other hand, if we give ourselves totally over to the Lord, in obedience to His Word, the Holy Spirit’s power will strengthen and mature us.

Think about a young child, maybe 10 years old. She wants to drive your car. She might have the ability to do it, but it could be harmful to her if you let her. She wouldn’t have the emotional and physical maturity to handle that responsibility.

God is always testing us to see if we are strong enough for His glory and power to be made real in our lives. He won’t ever give us more than we can handle.

Question: How does believing in God’s power to restore your life change the way you approach the challenges you currently face?

We may not know what the day will bring. But we know Who will bring the day! ~ We the Kingdom

Take a few minutes to watch/listen to this song by We the Kingdom. It’s so inspiring, and the lyrics are powerfully relevant. Be blessed! ~ Tamara