Restored Again:
A Story of Promise and Perseverance”
Scripture Focus:
“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust, 2 Peter 1:4 (KJV)
Part 1 – The First Restoration
I came by them nearly in pieces—a wooden swan and an old arched window planter, each so broken and weathered that my husband gently suggested the trash. But I couldn’t. I saw what they could be. After hours of care and creativity, sanding and sealing, they stood beautiful redeemed from ruin.
This is what God does for us. When we are born again, He does not patch us up—He saves us anew*, giving us new hearts and new purpose through His precious promises. What once was ruined becomes a vessel of beauty and grace.
Part 2 – Weathered by the World
But life happened. They were left outside through snow and storm, and without daily care, they darkened with mildew, weakened again, their edges splitting apart. I was heartbroken—they had been brand new. Had all the work been for nothing?
And isn’t that how it can be for believers too? Though our salvation is secure, if we do not build on our most holy faith, the corrosion of this world seeps in. Without intentional growth—through prayer, Scripture, fellowship—we become vulnerable. Our faith grows dim. Not lost… but neglected.
Part 3 – Restored Again, Built Stronger
Still, I didn’t throw them away. I chose to restore them again. This time with better protection. More care. And a deeper understanding of what they would face outdoors.
The Lord does the same with us. He never discards His own. He invites us to grow, to add to our faith virtue, knowledge, self-control, and perseverance (2 Peter 1:5–7). His promises aren’t just for salvation—they’re for transformation. We are called not just to be saved, but *sanctified*.
Reflection Questions:
- Where have I seen signs of spiritual corrosion in my life?
- How am I actively building my faith today?
- In what ways has God restored me—again and again?
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for not giving up on me. Even when I’ve been weathered by neglect or worn by worldly winds, Your promises are still true. Restore me again. Strengthen my faith. And teach me to build with You each day.
Rededication
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Dramatic Reading:
“Twice-Restored”
*Inspired by 2 Peter 1:4–7*
*(A soft light fades in. The speaker steps forward slowly. The tone is reflective—almost confessional.)*
**SPEAKER:**
I found them in pieces.
A wooden swan—once lovely.
An arched window planter—once bright.
They were splintered. Water-damaged.
He said, “Toss them. They’re too far gone.”
But I saw more.
I saw what they *could be.*
*(Pause. A smile begins to form.)*
So I sanded. I shaped. I sealed.
I restored.
And when I was finished…
they were beautiful.
Redeemed. Renewed.
*(A beat. The tone grows somber.)*
But time passed.
Life swept in, and I—
I left them outside.
Through one harsh winter they stood,
alone.
And in spring…
they were blackened.
Falling apart.
Not what they were.
Not what I had made them to be.
*(Longer pause. The speaker breathes deeply.)*
Isn’t that us?
We are *saved*, yes—
by *great and precious promises*
(2 Peter 1:4)
We are partakers of the divine nature…
rescued from ruin.
But if we do not build—
if we do not *grow*—
corruption seeps in.
Neglect becomes decay.
Not loss of salvation…
but the dimming of joy,
of purpose,
of strength.
*(A shift—resolve enters the voice.)*
So I took them back in.
My swan. My planter.
I will restore them—again.
But this time:
With more care.
More protection.
More awareness of the storms they’ll face.
*(Firmly, with conviction.)*
That’s what the Lord does with us.
He never discards.
Never walks away.
He calls us to grow—
to *add to our faith*
virtue,
knowledge,
self-control,
perseverance
(2 Peter 1:5–7)
—not to keep salvation,
but because we already have it.
*(A pause. Voice softens.)*
He restores us again.
And again.
Even in sorrow.
Even in storms.
Even when the world misunderstands you
—
you are not forgotten.
For “blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake:
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
(Matthew 5:10)
So if your faith costs you comfort—
if your stand brings suffering—
know this:
You are still restored.
Still His.
Still blessed.
*(Final words are slow and meaningful.)*
So let us not neglect so great a gift.
Let us not grow dull in the rain.
Let us build.
Let us shine.
Let us be—
*twice-restored.*
Susan Barker Nikitenko 2025© MBPMKBPBRMNMBenAnna543
A call to rededication
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Comments:
the way you revived that wooden swan and arched window planter says so much about your eye for beauty and restoration—it's almost like a parable in wood and weathered paint. I can just picture them, rescued from the brink and turned into something lovely again. It’s no small thing to look at what others might see as ruined and believe it’s worth the effort. That’s a reflection of the heart you bring to your creative and faith-based work too.
Now, seeing them blackened and falling apart must feel like watching something you poured love into fade away. But I love that you’re ready to restore them again—it’s almost poetic: redemption through craftsmanship. If you'd like, I can help brainstorm a plan for the restoration with steps and materials that will protect them better from weather. And if you feel like writing a devotional or poem inspired by this story of wear, ruin, and renewal
Comments:
“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises…”—2 Peter 1:4 captures that divine exchange: from corruption to restoration, from brokenness to beauty. Just like your swan and window planter, our lives can look beyond repair, but the promise of becoming partakers of the divine nature gives us reason to begin again.
Your story could make a powerful devotional or dramatic reading. Imagine opening with the image of something once broken and tossed aside, then brought back to life—only to face ruin again. And yet, you choose to restore it again because you believe in its worth. That choice mirrors God’s relentless mercy in restoring us, not once, but again and again.
Your restoration project becomes an even richer metaphor in that light. That swan and planter were once renewed, yet left untended, they didn’t vanish—they just weathered and weakened. Much like how a believer, if not continually built up through Christ, can become spiritually brittle.
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