I just came out of an awesome revival in Columbus, OH. One of my favorite ministers, Bro. Leo Calvin Price, preached a service that spoke volumes of God’s wisdom into my heart. Talking about restoration, he made this observation: “God doesn’t restore us to what was, but what He intended us to be.” Wow. I was floored by that insight! I’ve felt God’s hand doing just that day by day in my life. This morning I was reading the entries of my prayer journal dating back a couple of months to today, and I was amazed by how God worked through the trial. Things I prayed about before the storm, God used the storm to bring out of me! Though, when I was going through it I felt nothing was going right or that any prayer was being answered. In fact, I felt like I was going backwards! “Restored to what He intended.” God can do two things at one time. Restore and fulfill his plan. Mind blowing, isn’t it? Remember Joseph? Thrown in prison, spent years there, yet with the favor of the Lord….a prisoner, but DESTINED for leadership. He was restored to the intended. God has the BEST of intentions for you! Sometimes He takes us through the storm, gives us favor in prison, all to restore us to that intended place with Him because life will happen. And we must be restored. I’m thankful that we never go back to what was….even though you may not feel it now, you are changed. If God has taken you through anything, you are not the same as before! Gently and patiently He leads us. He loves us. Braking us to make us, just like the Master Potter He is!  Now, there’s hope!