“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

During the pandemic, I had time to accomplish some do-it-yourself (DIY) projects I had placed on the back burner for quite some time. About 25 years ago, I purchased a set of black wrought iron patio furniture including two dining armchairs, a glider, and a table. This furniture has survived several moves, rain, and snowstorms. The once attractive black wrought iron had become ashy in color and riddled with rust spots. Recently, I took on the project to restore this furniture and transform it back to its original character. First, I cleaned off the dirt and grime and prepared the furniture for its impending makeover. Afterwards, I spread out a big piece of plastic drop cloth in the backyard and placed each piece of furniture on it. The furniture’s new makeup resided in a can of Rustoleum Gloss Protective Enamel. After the new coating of black gloss enamel was applied, the patio furniture looked like the day I purchased it. It was restored back to its original beauty.

I am currently facilitating a small group titled, “Understanding Soul Care.” The course curriculum was developed by Dr. Dharius Daniels who encourages us to work through our soul wounds and create solutions to heal them. We often think about restoring our furniture, homes, cars, etc; however, we leave our souls to defend for themselves. Dr. Daniels describes the soul as our mind, will, emotions, imagination, and our affections. Our souls are often wounded from life events such as childhood trauma, bullying, divorce, abusive relationships, loss of a loved one, and the list goes on.  Recently, on a relaxing drive down to Lancaster, VA, I decided to listen to one of my newest Audiobooks, “Just As I Am: A Memoir” by the late Cicely Tyson. We often see a celebrity’s glory, but oftentimes we do not know the story behind their fame and fortune. Cicely shared with her readers the resentment she carried toward her mother for not acknowledging her accomplishments. She believed her mother would never forgive her for becoming a teenage mother. Cicely shared how her mother acknowledged her success for the first time when she had been nominated for her first award. She went on to say that she didn’t win the award, but she finally had what she had been longing for—her mother’s affirmation. Her mother not only affirmed her; she healed that soul wound.

In Mercy Multiplied’s article titled, “The Messy Process of Restoration,” the author offers four stages of restoration:

1. Gutting. Get rid of anything that needs to go—ripping out things that are outdated or unsound. God has to strip away everything that isn’t what He intended for you. He knows how to gently and safely remove the dirt and grime in your soul, while leaving you structurally sound.

• Planning. You may not get to see God’s plan; however, as He restores you, He is never intending to leave you bare and raw. His plans for you is always good. He makes all things beautiful in their time.

• Laying a foundation. There must be a strong foundation to build off of. When God decides to build something, His masterpiece will last the test of time. Once rejecting lies, the Lord replaces those lies with the truth establishing your identity in Him so that you can have a strong foundation in His love.

• Beautification. Finally, there is a complete structure with a strong foundation—old has been restored to something new. This is where God fills you with joy and peace and blesses you with good things. You’re restored. Whole. Complete. Beautiful.

In the same way my rusty, seemingly useless, and worthless furniture was restored, so can our souls be restored. Personally, God in his infinite wisdom has healed several of my soul wounds. In my book “Sandpaper & Pearls,” I describe my restoration process. It was not easy, but it was all worth it. It takes sanding away the dirt and grime of the past, gutting out the things/relationships that are outdated and unsound, planning and laying the foundation for a new life, and finally acknowledging the beauty (the pearl) you have become.

If you are interested in a free 30-min coaching session, book an appointment at calendly.com/new-wine-consulting.