In the past, I’ve asked God for a word for the year. One year it was believe. This was the year of my first miscarriage. Things were moving forward in writing with contracts. But I couldn’t reconcile my faith with what had happened and was scared to ask for more in any area of my life.

Another year it was trust.

This year, I didn’t really get one. I kept seeing what other people posted and kept thinking, “oh, that’s a good one.” Then I’d read another and want that to be mine — you know how there are some words you want and others you don’t?

And I don’t know if this is so much my word, but it seems to be the theme as I look around at our church: Restoration (the replacement or giving back of something lost or stolen).

I am seeing God answer long held prayers. The kind that have been prayed for years. He is opening doors that seemed nailed shut. He’s giving more than people had asked. He’s providing a way where there seems to be no way.

This doesn’t mean I don’t see people still hurting, wondering how to pay the bills, etc. But He is moving in truly miraculous ways to restore what our enemy stole. My faith is engaged and energized. I have a sense of expectation that God will continue to restore in dramatic ways.

Have you seen God restore? What is your word?