It's Gonna Take HOW LONG??

It doesn't happen overnight.

Deterioration is something that takes time.  Usually a good length of it, as a matter of fact.
Neglect or lack of use; not cleaning away abrasive substances that when met with other factors like sunlight or water can cause a destructive reaction.  So it inevitably falls apart.

Restoration...yeah, that doesn't happen overnight either.  To get that 'new again' look, it will require hours, days, even months of hard work.  The right tools, the consistent touch applying just the correct amount of lubricant, paint or polish; researching the object in order to purposely bring back what the creator intended when first seen by public eye.

Whether its a bargain bookcase you scored at a yard sale or Uncle Fred's '56 Chevy no one wanted, restoration is hard work.  It will take commitment, diligence, even sacrifice to see your prize find returned to it's original state.

Now consider a marriage.

Decades of unmet (and unrealistic) expectations, emotional abandonment, repeated infidelity and spiritual abuse had trashed our "happily ever after."  Married at a very young age for all the wrong reasons, my husband and I found ourselves looking at what most would consider a relationship that was beyond restoration.

In 2006, we faced a trial (literally) that could have destroyed not only our relationship, but our family as a whole.  But with the love and support of our children, our pastors and closest friends, we made the choice to stand and we were victorious.  We entered into two years of counseling, many days spent in transparent and painful conversations, nights where all we could do was cry and hold each other....yes, I said two YEARS.

It was then I faced the ultimate test.  What if this restoration work takes another two years? What if my husband doesn't decide to follow the Lord as closely as he could, and he breaks my heart again? What if other life-altering issues happening at the same time (the unexpected loss of employment, the death of our grandchild) are making this restoration work just too difficult, too demanding?

Job of the Bible had lost absolutely everything. Family, all of his personal assets, the respect of his  closest friends, his health, and yes, even his faith.  He came to the point finally where he admitted to the Lord he wished he had never even been born!  He just wanted out of all that pain.  To Job, at this point, his was not a salvageable life....not even God could restore what he had lost.

Then we're told how God begins to share with Job His heart....His perspective.  He tells Job to wipe his boil-scarred face, sit up as straight as he can and then the God Who Sees and Knows All begins to remind His hurting child that He is also The God Who Heals.

We know the end of the story; Job is blessed with not only total restoration of what he lost, but double.  Scripture doesn't tell us how long Job had to wait to see the final piece put in place.  But it does give us insight into how he endured the process.

"I had heard of You only by the hearing of the ear...but now my spiritual eye sees You." Job 42:5

Like Job, I too was ready to give up on life.  I wasn't suicidal, I was just exhausted---more than ready to put away the tool box and let this restoration project go.  Yet as I yielded to His voice during worship one Sunday, I found the strength and the desire to keep the work going.  

As I sang the words to a favorite song, my spiritual eyes were opened, and not only did I hear those amazing words with my ears but I actually could envision my Lord nodding His head in approval! He was cheering me on, telling me He would indeed be there every step of the way!  No matter how many setbacks, unanswered questions or new mountains we faced, our God was going to be there with whatever we would need to see our marriage experience true healing and restoration.

It's been almost nine years now, and our life is not yet perfect.  We still have days where the work leaves us sore and tired for a while.  So we put aside the tools, sit down in a familiar, comfortable spot together and thank God for what He has already accomplished.  We'll listen to the songs that brought our spiritual eyes their sight, and once again find the courage and the energy to keep working with Him.

Whatever stage of restoration you may find yourself in, don't give up!  God can see the finished project, and He will work right alongside until you see it done as well.

No matter how long it takes.

"...being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."  Philippians 1:6