Every year carries its own weight.
Some years stretch us.
Some years break us.
Some years take more than they give.
And if we’re honest, many people are walking into this year carrying losses they never planned for—lost time, broken trust, deferred dreams, strained relationships, weakened faith.
That’s why our word for this year is not accidental.
It’s intentional.
It’s biblical.
It’s hopeful.
Our Word for the Year is: RESTORE.
God Is a Restoring God
Restoration is not a trend.
It’s part of God’s nature.
God doesn’t just forgive—He restores.
He doesn’t just heal—He rebuilds.
He doesn’t just rescue—He renews.
The Lord makes this promise clearly:
“I will restore the years that the swarming locust has eaten.”
— Joel 2:25 (CSB)
Notice what God promises to restore:
Years.
Not just moments.
Not just feelings.
Not just circumstances.
God speaks to time that felt wasted, stolen, or destroyed—and says, “I can redeem even that.”
Restore Is About More Than the Past
Restoration is not living backward.
It’s not pretending the pain didn’t happen.
It’s not erasing history.
Restoration is God taking what was damaged and giving it new strength.
What was delayed and giving it new purpose.
What was broken and giving it new life.
God doesn’t always restore things to the way they were.
Often, He restores them to what they were meant to be.
What Restore Means for This Year
This is a year to believe God for more than survival.
- Restored hearts — healing from grief, bitterness, and disappointment
- Restored faith — trust that has been shaken but not destroyed
- Restored relationships — forgiveness, reconciliation, and peace
- Restored purpose — clarity where confusion once lived
- Restored joy — strength rising where weariness settled in
Restoration is not rushed.
It’s intentional.
It’s often gradual.
But it is always guided by God’s hand.
Restore Requires Participation
God restores—but He invites us to walk with Him in the process.
Restoration asks us to:
- Let go of what we cannot change
- Release what we were never meant to carry
- Obey God in the small steps
- Trust Him with the timeline
Restoration doesn’t begin with everything changing around us.
It begins with God changing something within us.
A Declaration for the Year
This year, we are choosing to believe that God is not finished.
Finished with your story.
Finished with your calling.
Finished with your family.
Finished with your future.
He restores what life tried to take.
He redeems what the enemy tried to ruin.
He renews what felt too far gone.
This is a year of RESTORE.
A Simple Prayer
Lord, I place this year in Your hands. Restore what has been broken, strengthen what is weak, and redeem what was lost. Teach me to trust You with the process and to walk forward in faith. I believe You are still restoring. Amen.
Final Thought:
God is not intimidated by what you’ve lost.
He specializes in restoration.
This is the year to believe again.
This is the year to heal again.
This is the year to walk restored.
Thoughts from Pastor Toney 