This time last year, March Madness was taken away from us. All because of a terrible virus, we missed out on surprising upsets, astonishing buzzer-beaters, inspiring Cinderella stories, and incredible moments.
As sports fans, we were unable to enjoy filling out our brackets, rooting for our favorite teams, watching players become legends of March, and jumping out of our seats in excitement.
We were stripped of the tournament we love so much and we were left with memories and thoughts of what could have been. It was a disappointing and devastating month.
Despite the unfortunate circumstances and loss of the 2020 NCAA Tournament, we are BACK this year! That’s right, March Madness has been restored in 2021!
During the “First Four” games last night, we already had the privilege of seeing comebacks, overtime, passionate coaches, shots at the buzzer, and the magic of March once again.
Today the tournament resumes with a loaded schedule of games, and over the next few days, we'll have a whole new appreciation of March Madness as we bask in its restoration.
Unfortunately, many of us today are crying out for a more serious restoration. From health problems to tumultuous marriages to the death of loved ones to job loss, there is brokenness and we long for these areas of our lives to be restored.
Thankfully, we serve an almighty and loving God who restores and comforts us during these trials. Whether we look in the Bible or talk to friends or reflect on our own lives, we see how God repairs brokenness and heals hearts.
Sometimes our pain puts us into a refining period that leads us to surrender and deepens our faith in Him while there’s hope that we can and will be restored.
In many cases, when we lose relationships, or good health, or our jobs, God remarkably restores us in ways that put us in an even better position than before.
We can come out of these difficult seasons rejuvenated and strengthened with a fresh outlook, perspective, and appreciation.
The story of Job in the Bible is one of immense restoration. Job experienced heartache upon heartache and lost everything he had - except for his faith.
After suffering and going through tremendous tests for a while, we're told in Job 42:10 (NLT), ”When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before!”
Verse 12 amazingly adds, “So the Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning…” As followers of Jesus, we're also offered this hope in I Peter 5:10 (NLT): “In His kindness, God called you to share in His eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, He will restore, support, and strengthen you, and He will place you on a firm foundation.”
Finally, Psalm 23:3 (AMP) reminds us, “He refreshes and restores my soul (life); He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”
It’s awesome when God powerfully and miraculously restores our finances or relationships or health, but even if He chooses not to, He restores our souls, which fills us with hope and confidence for His complete and perfect eternal restoration.
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I praise You for Your ability and willingness to restore so many aspects of my life. Thank you for the relationships You’ve mended and the blessings You’ve provided. Thank you for the brokenness in my heart that You’ve healed and restored. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Discussion Questions for PACKS:
In what ways has God restored aspects of your life?
How does your understanding of God’s ultimate restoration give you hope in the midst of the world’s brokenness?
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