As we were doing math at the dining room table, I noticed Oliver was struggling with His subtraction. I grabbed a handful of mini marshmallows out of the pantry and gave him a yummy option to help him see the numbers a little more clearly. It wasn’t before long I heard, “mom, George is eating all my marshmallows!” His older brother was slowly taking one at a time leaving a dwindled pile and an upset brother. I reached my hand back into the marshmallows and said, “here Oliver, you get double for your trouble!” George suddenly said, “that’s not fair! I don’t get double for all the things that Oliver has taken from me!” We had a good laugh about it all, and jokingly I said to George, “don’t worry, your doubles coming!” I’ve been thinking about this conversation for a few days now, as I have heard the phrase, double for you trouble, before. But what does the Bible truly say about restoring the things that are stolen, even to the point of a double portion?
John 10:10 says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” This scripture makes it clear that Satan is a robber. He wants to steal our joy, wellbeing, happiness, family, finances, and most importantly people away from God.
When we experience something broken, stolen or lost, can God take those things and restore, replace, and mend them? I believe the answer is yes, but with a surrendered and yielding, yes! He does mend, He does heal, He does replace, and he does restore, but the restoration and double portions come from God alone, His plan and His way. It’s when we put our faith and trust into the Potters hands that he can mend, mold, and make new the things that are broken and lost.
“Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth, you will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once more.” (Psalm 71:20-21)
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast. To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:10-11)
“Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, and instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore, in their land they shall possess double; Everlasting joy shall be theirs.” (Isaiah 61:7)
Let us look at Job for a moment. God allowed Satan to destroy nearly everything Job had. His children, health, friends, wealth, and relationships. Why did God allow this? I don’t know the full answer, but I do know that the loss molded Job into a man who relied on God for ALL things. A man of greater faith and His restoration was all for God’s glory! “After Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes, and gave him twice as much as he had before.” (Job 42:10). Job did not go to the enemy’s camp and take back all that Satan had stolen, but He did put His faith in God, He voiced that God can do ALL things, and God did the restoration and double portion for the latter part of His life.
When we walk through trials and tribulations, we walk with hope and thanksgiving, not just for the restoration on earth, but our eternal restoration in Heaven. Restoration and double portions will not always look exactly what we might imagine. Job was given a double portion for His trouble on earth, but the children he did lose could never actually be replaced and doubled. This is the difference between our expectations and God’s plan and will. Although Job didn’t get everything exactly back, God did give Him new joy for new children, new thankfulness for restored relationships, and new wealth for new things. Sometimes we wait for an exact return, just like my boys and their marshmallows, but the return may look different than what was before. Like instead of a marshmallow, it might be a chocolate chip, or the restoration might be soley in you and your heart. However the double portions and the restoration comes, know that God can take all things and work them together for our good. Whatever trial you may be facing this week, trust God and His process, know that He is always with you, and He can turn your mourning into dancing again.
Emily Rodewald 