Sermon Central
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The God Who Restores Wasted Years Series
Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Jul 31, 2025 (message contributor)
Summary: When God speaks of restoring the years the locusts have eaten, He is not merely referring to crops or finances. He is referring to the years that seemed to have yielded nothing.
THE GOD WHO RESTORES WASTED YEARS
By Rev. Samuel Arimoro
Main Text: Joel 2:25-27
Supporting Texts: Isaiah 61:7, Job 42:10, Jeremiah 30:17, Psalm 126:1-6, Zechariah 9:12
INTRODUCTION:
Life can sometimes take turns we never expected—seasons may pass, opportunities may be missed, and years may feel wasted due to sin, delay, ignorance, oppression, or the attacks of the enemy. The pain of wasted years is real, especially when one considers the time lost that cannot be physically recovered. However, our God is not limited by time. He stands outside of time, and He can compress time, redeem time, and restore what was lost.
When God speaks of restoring the years the locusts have eaten, He is not merely referring to crops or finances. He is referring to the years that seemed to have yielded nothing. These are the years of disappointment, tears, failure, unfruitfulness, and stagnation. But the same God who saw your pain and remembered your tears is also able to give you a glorious turnaround that makes up for the lost time.
God is a restorer. He specialises in turning the bitter into sweet and the broken into whole. No matter what you’ve lost—be it time, health, relationships, opportunities, or dignity—God has the power to give you restoration with compensation. When He restores, He adds interest and turns shame into glory.
1. GOD RESTORES TIME THAT WAS STOLEN OR WASTED
Time is one of the most precious gifts we have, and yet it is also the most difficult to recover. But God can supernaturally restore the years you thought were lost.
a) God can redeem lost years through divine acceleration (Amos 9:13)
The Lord is able to collapse processes and make things happen faster than usual when He chooses to restore.
b) God can restore time by causing you to achieve in one year what others achieve in ten (Psalm 90:14-15)
He gives satisfaction early in the morning and can multiply your results in a short time.
c) God uses restoration to bring glory out of past pain (Isaiah 61:7)
He exchanges your shame for double honour and causes you to rejoice where you once wept.
d) Divine restoration is often preceded by repentance and renewal (Joel 2:12-14)
When we return to God with a sincere heart, He restores and blesses again.
Biblical Example: Job experienced years of suffering, loss, and pain, but God restored him with double of all he lost (Job 42:10-12).
2. GOD RESTORES LOST OPPORTUNITIES
Opportunities missed or sabotaged may seem gone forever, but not with God. He can bring new doors and divine setups to compensate for what was lost.
a) God gives fresh doors where the old ones were shut (Revelation 3:8)
Even when men try to close doors, God can open new ones that no one can shut.
b) Restoration means divine connection to timely help (Isaiah 60:10)
God can bring people, platforms, and partnerships that accelerate your restoration.
c) He brings relevance back to forgotten people (1 Samuel 2:8)
Even if you were cast aside, God can place you among princes.
d) He reintroduces you in a greater dimension (Genesis 41:14-16)
God can lift a forgotten person and cause kings to look for them.
e) Biblical Example: Mordecai was forgotten for years until one night the king could not sleep, and God restored honour to him (Esther 6:1-11).
3. GOD RESTORES FRUITFULNESS AND IMPACT
Fruitless seasons can be frustrating, but when God steps in, He makes all things new and causes your life to be productive again.
a) God causes your land to yield again (Joel 2:24)
Where there was dryness, God brings abundance.
b) He brings new beginnings and second chances (Isaiah 43:19)
Even in the wilderness, He makes rivers to flow.
c) Restoration brings spiritual and physical results (Zechariah 8:12)
The seed shall be prosperous, and the vine shall yield her fruit.
d) Restoration is followed by rejoicing and thanksgiving (Psalm 126:5-6)
Tears may have sown the seed, but joy will harvest the fruit.
Biblical Example: Sarah waited long, but when God restored fruitfulness to her womb, she bore Isaac and laughed again (Genesis 21:1-6).
4. GOD RESTORES HEALTH AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING
Many have lost peace, joy, and health to the pressures of life. But God’s restoration reaches even the innermost part of man—mind, body, and soul.
a) God heals wounds and comforts the broken-hearted (Jeremiah 30:17)
He restores health and brings healing to emotional scars.
b) Restoration includes rest and peace (Psalm 23:3)
He restores your soul and leads you beside still waters.
c) He turns mourning into dancing (Isaiah 61:3)
God replaces ashes with beauty, and heaviness with praise.
d) The presence of God is key to restoration of peace (Philippians 4:7)
His peace guards your heart and mind through Christ Jesus.
Biblical Example: The woman with the issue of blood was not only healed but restored emotionally and socially (Mark 5:25-34).
