Have you seen someone’s face shine? Have you seen the glow a pregnant woman has? Have you seen the eyes of someone light up when they see you? Have you noticed the look of a proud parent? Have you had one of looks from someone restore you?
Seeing someone’s face light up is a joy. It is especially joyful when we know their face lit up because they saw us. When our parent’s face shines with pride in us, it makes us feel good. That good feeling can be restorative and rise our spirits for quite a while.
The Psalmist is pleading with God to restore the Israelites. We, too, can ask God to restore us. He has promised to restore us. All we must do is turn away from our disobedience and ask. It sounds simple, but it is a real challenge. Too often, we like the things we do in disobedience.
When God’s face shines on us, it is more than that of a proud parent. His face shines with love and pride when we turn back to him. Not only that, but he saves us from the punishment we deserve for our disobedience. God does so out of his amazing grace and desire to reconcile us to him.
Think about it for just a moment. The God of all creation, the God who created the entire universe, the God who created us loves us so much that he is willing to forgive our shortcomings so we can be reconciled to him. He wants us to be with him forever. Are we willing to ask him to shine his face on us and restore us?
I pray we all know that God loves us. I pray we turn from our disobedience, turning back to God. I pray each one of us will ask God to shine his face on us and restore us to himself. God loves you. Turn from your disobedience. Turn to God. Ask God to shine on you. Ask him to restore you.
Psalm 80:19
Restore us, O Lord God of hosts;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.
Marty Pressey 