Restoration

By Mandi Polly

Mitchell County

Throughout our lives, God gives us signs that remind us of His unending presence.  Yet we still have to be receptive and open our hearts to hear, feel, or see them.  Sometimes these signs arrive through the words of a song, a familiar Bible verse, or just a nearness or warmth you feel in your heart, like a big hug from God. Other times it’s literally right in your face.

Not long before Hurricane Helene destroyed our community, our church sanctuary was undergoing a restoration. We had been meeting in our Family Life Center for worship services. Before the work could be completed, our Family Life Center became a hub of food, water, and supplies donated from all over to help our community after the storm. So, outside in the parking lot, we went. The weather became cold quickly, and our outdoor services had to move back inside to the partially completed sanctuary.

The stage and altar had an initial layer of plyboard, and on them, Bible verses were written by our church members. They were literally covered by the Word of God.

One Sunday morning, God was leading my heart to lay my worries and problems on the altar and trust Him to take care of them.  As I knelt down and bowed my head to give it to God, there on the stage was an unmistakable message from God, “I will restore everything.” -Joel 2:25.

Several times after that, I went forward and was drawn to that same spot. That verse, which someone in our church felt led to write down, became my message of hope from God. I am in awe that God, who created the Universe and everything in it, cared enough to put that in front of my face just to let me know He heard me. It became a source of calmness and reassurance that I was not alone.

The sanctuary is now complete and the altar, with all those verses, is covered, but those words from God are still there; written underneath the beautiful wood and deeply engraved on my heart.

That spot still holds the echo of God’s whisper and feels like a thin line, where earth and eternity meet. I know God sees and loves me enough to be there at any moment I need Him. He sees your story and He is in it with you. Whatever you are going through, trust Him enough to lay it down at the altar and let Him restore you.

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Mandi Polly is a lifelong resident of Mitchell County.  She is a wife, mom to two daughters and a “Grandi ” to two of the sweetest grandkids. She and her family are members of Grassy Creek Baptist Church in Spruce Pine. She loves music and being creative.

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Read more from Mandi Polly Here.