Instead of your [former] shame you shall have a twofold recompense; instead of dishonor and reproach [your people] shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double [what they had forfeited]; everlasting joy shall be theirs.

Isaiah 53:7 (ESV)

Isaiah 61:7 says, Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion (NIV). God can completely restore us—no matter what we’ve done or been through. And He wants to bring us to places that are better than where we would have been if we had never gone through the messes in our lives. He wants to give us double for our trouble! Notice the phrase “instead of your shame.” I had a shame-based nature for many years because of the abuse I experienced from my father. It made me feel like something must be wrong with me for him to do the things he did to me.

But the first thing Jesus gives us through our relationships with Him is righteousness, or “right standing with God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). The enemy wants us to think about everything we think is wrong with us. But when we do this, it just gives our problems more strength over us. We need to learn how to “walk by the Spirit,” because then we will not gratify the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16 ESV). This is what it means to be transformed into the image of Christ. And while it’s not always easy, we can do it with God’s help, and I guarantee it will be worth it in the end.

Prayer of the Day: God, You know what I have been through. We have been through it together. While I would be happy with complete restoration, You are a God Who goes above and beyond all I can imagine, so I trust that You will not only restore me, but give me double for my trouble, amen.

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