It Doesn’t Work Anymore, Better Throw It Away
How many times do we say this about something?
We are used to discarding, and it is part of the culture—especially in these times when everything is disposable. We do not like to fix, often because we don't have the time or patience.
And this… we do with people.
We do not care or expect them to have a restoration, and we do not have patience for them to be restored by God. So we discard everything—even a relationship—because maybe we want to restore it in our way or with a design that we believe is best for us.
Restorer
The one who returns something to its original state, improves it, or makes it new.
A restorer does not throw away what is damaged, but values it, cleans it, honors it, and makes it shine again.
There are promises from God, and He is the Restorer by excellence—and He is not wrong.
Have you let yourself be restored by God?
Or maybe you want to restore yourself in your own way?
At the same time, let's have patience to be restored by God.
"I will return the years he ate the lobster"
—Joel 2:25
Initial attack
1. Lobster
Consumes the visible fruit.
Leaves external beauty. (Economy, health, image).
Visible losses
Advances in larger groups—deep and progressive.
2. Jump
Loss of progress.
Stopped growth.
Repeated frustration.
Structural losses
Devourer or cutter.
Roots, stems, vital structure of the plant.
3. Revolton
Attacks the internal.
Internal wounds, roots of pain, heart damage, or identity
Losses of processes.
4. Caterpillar
What wasn’t destroyed above, the caterpillar totally destroys.
Total dryness. There is nothing left. A total vacuum.
Loss of hope.
Not only the lost fruit, but the years—the time, the seasons, the opportunities…
What seemed irrecoverable.
God promises to return everything.
"And he who was sitting on the throne said, 'Look, I make all things new!' Then he said to me, 'Write this, because what I tell you is true and trustworthy.'"
—Revelation 21:5 (NTV)
Mephibosheth: a story of restoration
"Where is he?" —asked the king.
"In Lo-debar," Siba replied, "in the house of Maquir, son of Amiel."
Then David sent for him and took him out of Maquir's house.
His name was Mephibosheth; he was the son of Jonathan and the grandson of Saul. When he appeared before David, he prostrated himself to the ground with deep respect.
David said: "Greetings, Mephibosheth!"
Mephibosheth replied: "I am his servant."
"Don’t be afraid!" —David told him— "My intention is to show you my goodness for what I promised your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the properties that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me, at the king’s table."
—2 Samuel 9:4–7 (NTV)
Mephibosheth
The one who spreads shame. Crippled.
—2 Samuel 4:4
Grandson of King Saul and son of Jonathan.
Lived in Lo-debar:
Lo = negation (without)
Dabar = word, thing, or grass
It translates as "without communication, without food, without life"—a sterile, forgotten desert.
His royal lineage was stained, and he had a hopeless future.
He was summoned by the king—and he thought he would be killed. (2 Samuel 9:7)
He expected judgment… and received grace.
He was raised from anonymity.
He received lands, honor, and real position.
Although he was crippled, he was treated like a son of the king.
Grace triumphs over judgment.
There are people who carry wounds since their childhood—physical, emotional, family—but God has not forgotten them.
Grace covered his crippled feet.
Grace covers our failures.
No matter how broken or useless you seem in the eyes of the world—God can sit you at His table.
"For he raised us up from the dead together with Christ and sat us with him in the heavenly places, because we are united to Christ Jesus."
—Ephesians 2:6
Final thoughts
God can't heal a wound that your pride wants to hide.
An injured leader is going to hurt others.
"For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost."
—Luke 19:10 (NTV)
What others discard, God restores
And transforms into honor.
When we are invited to sit at the King's table, remember:
There is a grace tablecloth where God has a place especially for you.
He loves us.
He wants us with Him.
He longs for us—jealously.
