Over the life of any business, sooner or later you will encounter major challenges or setbacks and experience declines in sales or profits, loss of market share, increased global competition, business interruptions, erosion of customer confidence, quality control issues, loss of funding, low employee morale or performance.
Change is a part of life so how are Christians called to respond to change? In the face of economic slumps or business downturns what are we to do? As Christians, can we really expect restoration and a turnaround, or healing in our marriage and family, relationships, finances, health, or business? The answer is yes, because God’s Word promises it. Isaiah 43:18-19 says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”
God heals, restores, and can turn your situation around. God is a God of restoration and when we live by faith and make Him our refuge, He will restore us in due season. Let’s examine the meaning of “restoration,” or “turnaround”:
- Make healthy, cure, recover from disease, cleanse, or purify; revive, bring back to life, make whole or sound
- Renew or re-establish after interruption (peace is restored, friendship is restored)
- Reconstruct or repair (health, finances, relationships, business affairs) that which was broken, far off or away; reversal to a former state
- Set in order, appoint, designate, make new, ordain
- Replace, return, bring back that which has been lost, taken away, decayed, or ruined
- Make restitution or give something to satisfy a grievance or injury
What are God’s promises of restoration or turnaround?
1. All things.
He answered and said, “Elijah is coming and will restore all things” (Matthew 17:11).
2. Comfort, joy, peace, and righteousness.
Then I will restore your judges as at the first,
And your counselors as at the beginning;
After that you will be called the city of righteousness,
A faithful city.
Zion will be redeemed with justice
And her repentant ones with righteousness. (Isaiah 1:26-27)
I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;
I will lead him and restore comfort to him and to his mourners,
Creating the praise of the lips.
Peace, peace to him who is far and to him who is near,
Says the LORD, and I will heal him. (Isaiah 57:18-19)
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
And sustain me with a willing spirit. (Psalm 51:12)
3. Deliverance from demons.
But the man from whom the demons had gone out was begging Him that he might accompany Him; but He sent him away, saying, “Return to your house and describe what great things God has done for you.” So he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him. (Luke 8:38-39)
While he was still approaching, the demon slammed him to the ground and threw him into a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy and gave him back to his father. (Luke 9: 42)
Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them. The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing. For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. (Acts 8:5-7)
Now, what about your work life? Is your business or career in a slump or on the decline? Are you in need of restoration or a turnaround? Study and meditate on God’s Word. Trust Him. Our Lord is in the restoration and turnaround business. In Parts 2 and 3, we will continue to look at God’s promises of restoration and turnaround.
