When you were born, what was going on in the world? I love those birthday cards that highlight your birthday with the number one song on the charts, this day in history, and famous people who share your birthday. Psalm 139 reminds us that we were created and fearfully, wonderfully made by God. He created you with your gene makeup, personality, and put you right into the timeline of history that you should be born in. You may feel out of place, and life may have tossed you around a bit, but you are exactly where you are supposed to be. He is our Shepherd, and we are His sheep (Psalm 23). We may wander, but He gently reminds and calls us home again.

Humans are in the practice of reforming. We reform education, policies, and even a broken object. We take what is broken, and we try to make it better. God, our Creator, who holds the original blueprint, restores. There is a difference.

Restore: return (someone or something) to a former condition, place, or position; repair or renovate (a building, work of art, vehicle, etc.) so as to return it to its original condition.

Reform: make changes in (something, typically a social, political, or economic institution or practice) in order to improve it.

Psalm 23:3

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Your Shepherd daily restores your soul. He returns it to its original condition. You have a Father, a Friend, a Healer who restores you–the unique you that you are, not a reforming of you into something you were not meant to be. He does not wave a magic wand and rid you of your circumstances and chaos. You will face loss, changes, moments of doubt, and confusion.

He does something miraculous.

He changes you–restores you.

Faith is believing that God does not need your drastic attempts to restore. He leads, guides, and He restores. Step outside your circumstances, hold your hands open towards the heavens, and proclaim, “HE RESTORES MY SOUL!”