God promises, "I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten" (Joel 2:25). "He restoreth my soul" (Psalm 23:3), and David prayed, "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation" (Psalm 51:12). After suffering, God will "make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you" (1 Peter 5:10).
Restoration means more than repair. In Scripture, God restores lost years, wounded health, weary souls, fallen people and, in the end, all things. Job, Peter and the exiles of Israel each lived through loss before restoration came. These twelve King James verses gather God's promise to restore what was lost, prayers for a restored soul, and the work of restoring one another. They suit a fresh start in the new year or a long season of waiting. For new starts, see new beginnings; for turning back to God, see repentance.
God restores what was lost
1. Joel 2:25-26
"And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed."
The locust swarm had stripped Judah's fields bare. God promised not only to stop the damage but to restore the years it took. It is a favorite verse for people rebuilding after addiction, debt or wasted time.
2. Job 42:10
"And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before."
Job's restoration came after deep loss and long questions, and it began as he prayed for the friends who had hurt him. God's restoring often meets us in the act of forgiving.
3. Jeremiah 30:17
"For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after."
God speaks to people others called outcasts, whom no one cared for, and promises to heal their wounds. If you feel forgotten, this verse is for you. See also healing.
4. Zechariah 9:12
"Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;"
Prisoners of hope is a striking phrase: people held fast by hope itself. God promises to render double, more than was lost, to those who turn to Him as their strong hold.
He restoreth my soul
5. Psalms 23:3
"He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake."
The Shepherd does the restoring. A weary soul does not need to fix itself first; it needs to follow Him to still waters and right paths. See also water.
6. Psalms 51:12
"Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit."
After his sin with Bathsheba, David had lost the joy of salvation. Restoration begins with honest confession and ends with gladness again.
7. Psalms 80:3
"Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved."
This refrain repeats three times in Psalm 80 (verses 3, 7 and 19), each time with a fuller name for God. It is a prayer for a family, church or nation that has drifted from Him.
8. 1 Peter 5:10
"But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you."
Peter wrote to suffering Christians. The suffering is for a while; God's work to make, establish, strengthen and settle His people is for good.
Restoring people and places
9. Galatians 6:1
"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."
When someone falls, the spiritual response is to restore, not to shame. The Greek word was also used for setting broken bones: careful, gentle and humble, knowing we could fall too.
10. John 21:17
"He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep."
Peter had denied Jesus three times. By a charcoal fire, Jesus asked him three times if he loved Him, then gave him work to do: Feed my sheep. Failure is not the end of a calling.
11. Isaiah 61:4
"And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations."
Restoration reaches places as well as people: ruined cities and the desolations of many generations. It is a hopeful verse for families breaking old patterns.
12. Acts 3:21
"Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began."
Peter looked ahead to the times of restitution, or restoration, of all things when Christ returns. Every personal restoration now is a preview of that day.
A short prayer
Lord, You know what has been lost: years, health, relationships and joy. Restore my soul, and restore to me the joy of Your salvation. Heal my wounds, help me forgive, and use me to restore others gently. Until the day You make all things new, keep me a prisoner of hope. Amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
New to this method? See our Bible study guide or pick a Bible reading plan.
Download our free SOAP study page · Get the SOAP Bible Study Journal · Pray through a season of restoration with the 30-Day Prayer Journal
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about restoration?
The Bible shows God as a restorer: of land and years (Joel 2:25), health (Jeremiah 30:17), the soul (Psalm 23:3), joy (Psalm 51:12), fallen believers (Galatians 6:1) and finally all things (Acts 3:21). Restoration is often gradual and may look different from before, but God's goodness runs through it.
What is the Bible verse about God restoring the years?
Joel 2:25: "I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten." God spoke it after a devastating locust plague and promised plenty and praise afterward (Joel 2:26). Many people pray it over lost time, though God's restoration may come in new forms rather than a return to the past.
Does God restore broken relationships?
Often, yes. God can bring repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18), and He restored Peter after his denial. But restoring a relationship takes two people, and it never means returning to abuse. Forgiveness can be given even when trust cannot safely be rebuilt. See broken relationships.
How long does God's restoration take?
Scripture gives no timetable. Job waited through a long season of suffering, Joseph through years of slavery and prison, and Israel through seventy years of exile. Peter promises restoration "after that ye have suffered a while" (1 Peter 5:10). Keep praying, take small faithful steps and let others walk with you.
If you are in an abusive relationship, restoration does not mean staying in danger. In the US, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or call 911 if you are in immediate danger.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: New beginning Bible verses · Bible verses about healing · Bible verses about broken relationships · Bible verses about forgiveness · Bible verses about hope · Bible verses about repentance · Bible verses about the future
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