THE GOD WHO RESTORES YOUR WASTED LABOUR
By Rev. Samuel Arimoro
Main Text: Joel 2:23-27; Luke 5:1-7
Key Verse: “And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.” — Joel 2:25
Supporting Texts: Psalm 126:5-6; 1 Corinthians 15:58; Isaiah 49:4; Galatians 6:9; Job 42:10
INTRODUCTION
There are seasons in life when sincere effort appears to produce little or no result. You labored faithfully, invested time and energy, prayed consistently, and yet the harvest seemed absent. Wasted labour is one of the most discouraging human experiences because it challenges both our strength and our faith.
However, Scripture reveals that God is not unjust to forget your work. When circumstances, opposition, or delay consume visible results, heaven still records every act of obedience and diligence. What looks wasted on earth is never wasted in God’s economy.
Joel 2:25 declares God’s commitment to restore lost years. This restoration is not symbolic; it is tangible. The God we serve specializes in redeeming time, recovering effort, and turning unproductive seasons into testimonies of abundance. He is the God who restores wasted labour.
1. GOD SEES EVERY SEASON OF UNREWARDED EFFORT
Before restoration occurs, you must understand that God never overlooks faithful labour.
a) God Records Faithful Work (1 Corinthians 15:58)
Scripture assures believers that their labour in the Lord is not in vain, meaning that heaven keeps accurate records even when earth shows no results.
b) Tears Precede Harvest (Psalm 126:5-6)
Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy, indicating that painful effort often precedes visible breakthrough.
c) God Notices Silent Struggles (Hebrews 6:10)
God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, affirming that unnoticed service is still divinely acknowledged.
d) Apparent Failure Is Not Final (Isaiah 49:4)
Even when the prophet felt he had laboured in vain, he recognized that his judgment and reward were with the Lord.
Biblical Example:
Hannah prayed year after year without visible answer, enduring ridicule and delay, yet God eventually remembered her and gave her Samuel (1 Samuel 1:10-20), proving that persistent effort is never wasted.
2. GOD HAS THE POWER TO RESTORE LOST YEARS
Divine restoration is not partial recovery but complete redemption.
a) Restoration of Consumed Seasons (Joel 2:25)
God promised to restore the years devoured by destructive forces, revealing His authority over time and loss.
b) Double for Trouble (Isaiah 61:7)
Instead of shame, God grants double honor, showing that restoration often exceeds the original loss.
c) Reversal of Captivity (Psalm 126:1)
When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, it felt like a dream, illustrating the overwhelming joy of sudden restoration.
d) Divine Compensation (Mark 10:29-30)
Jesus promised that sacrifices made for His sake would be rewarded abundantly in this life and in eternity.
Biblical Example:
Job lost his wealth, health, and children, yet God restored him and gave him twice as much as he had before (Job 42:10), demonstrating that restoration can surpass previous prosperity.
3. GOD TURNS EMPTY NETS INTO OVERFLOWING RESULTS
What appeared fruitless can suddenly become fruitful under divine instruction.
a) Obedience Unlocks Results (Luke 5:4-5)
Peter had toiled all night without success, yet one word from Jesus transformed emptiness into abundance.
b) Divine Timing Matters (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
God makes everything beautiful in His time, proving that delay does not mean denial.
c) Persistent Faith Is Rewarded (Galatians 6:9)
We are encouraged not to grow weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.
d) Supernatural Increase (Deuteronomy 8:18)
God gives power to get wealth, showing that sustainable results originate from Him.
Biblical Example:
After a night of fruitless fishing, Peter obeyed Jesus’ instruction and caught a multitude of fish that filled the boats (Luke 5:6-7), demonstrating that God can restore wasted labour instantly.
4. RESTORATION REQUIRES CONTINUED TRUST AND OBEDIENCE
God restores, but faith and alignment position you for manifestation.
a) Trusting God’s Process (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Leaning on God’s understanding ensures that even confusing seasons contribute to future restoration.
b) Maintaining Diligence (Proverbs 22:29)
Faithful diligence prepares you for the moment of divine promotion.
c) Refusing Bitterness (Ephesians 4:31-32)
Bitterness can hinder restoration, but forgiveness keeps the heart ready for blessing.
d) Expecting Divine Intervention (Jeremiah 29:11)
God’s plans are for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Biblical Example:
Joseph endured betrayal and imprisonment without abandoning integrity, and in due time God elevated him to rulership in Egypt (Genesis 41:39-41), turning years of apparent waste into purposeful destiny.
CONCLUSION
Wasted labour is one of life’s greatest discouragements, but it is never final when God is involved. Every tear, every prayer, every sacrifice, and every act of obedience is preserved in heaven’s record. The absence of immediate results does not cancel divine reward.
The God who restores wasted labour is able to redeem lost time, multiply former efforts, and produce harvests beyond expectation. Hold firmly to faith, remain steadfast in obedience, and trust that in due season, your restoration shall be visible and undeniable.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Father, restore every season of wasted effort in my life in Jesus name.
2. Lord, redeem every lost year and unproductive period in Jesus name.
3. Father, turn every fruitless labour into visible harvest in Jesus name.
4. Lord, grant me strength to persevere until restoration manifests in Jesus name.
5. Father, remove discouragement and renew my confidence in You in Jesus name.
6. Lord, release divine compensation for every sacrifice I have made in Jesus name.
7. Father, let delayed answers turn into accelerated testimonies in Jesus name.
8. Lord, open doors that restore lost opportunities in Jesus name.
9. Father, multiply the works of my hands beyond expectation in Jesus name.
10. Lord, establish lasting fruit from every effort I commit to You in Jesus name.
