S8 Episode #20- Restored with Jes French
THE ONE WITH Jes + Restored
This week on The Collected Podcast Jes shares a tender, hope‑filled reminder that God is restoring you even in the places that feel slow, messy, or unfinished. Jes shares a personal journal entry that sparked this message, then walks through a rich biblical exploration of restoration as healing, rebuilding, renewal, and the beautiful “now and not yet” of God’s promises. Through Scripture, story, and honest reflection, this conversation invites you to trust Jesus’ leading, ask Him for more, and see your life through the lens of the bigger story He’s writing. If you’re longing for encouragement, clarity, or a fresh sense of God’s nearness, this episode will speak deeply to your spirit and remind you that your restoration is already underway.
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Welcome to Season 8, Episode 20 of The Collected Podcast! I’m your host, Jes French, and this week I want to talk about restoration. During worship at my church a couple of weeks ago, I felt like a word was being downloaded into my Spirit for someone out there. The prayer of my heart is that this message will give someone hope for what they are facing today, and that it will allow us all to see beyond our current struggles and catch a glimpse of the bigger story that God is weaving together in each of our lives.
I want to start today by reading what I wrote in my journal:
April 19, 2026
You are already restored. God already sees the full, complete picture of who you are created to be and you are fully healed, redeemed, restored and vibrant– shining bright for His glory. In this moment, your heart is breaking, but God sees time differently and in Him, your restoration is already complete. So hold course, hold tight to your faith, because in the blink of an eye you will be dancing in His arms. Joy, hope and peace are already yours and you will feel them again soon. So don’t lose hope, precious one of the King, you are already restored.
That is the heart of the message today. We could really end there, but I wanted to look deeper into the idea of Biblical restoration.
In any word study, I always like to establish some basic definitions. According to Merriam Webster, restoration is the act of bringing something back to its original, former, or unimpaired condition, position, or state. It refers to repairing, rebuilding, or renewing items, environments, or positions, such as in art restoration, ecological restoration, or returning to a previous position.
I also like to look at the different Hebrew and Greek words that would be used for this one English word throughout the Old and New Testaments.
Hebrew:
לשחזר (Leshakhzer): To restore, reconstruct, or replicate (commonly used for data or physical items).
להשיב (Lehashiv): To return, bring back, or restore something to its original place.
לשקם (Leshakem): To rehabilitate, repair, or restore (e.g., a building or person).
לחדש (Lechadash): To renew, repair, or restore to a new condition.
Shuv (שׁוּב): Biblical root meaning to turn back, return, or restore.
Greek:
Apokathistémi (Αποκαθιστώ): To restore, reestablish, or repair.
Katartizo (καταρτίζω): to restore, put in order, mend; to make complete, equip, train; to prepare, ordain
Diasozo (διασῴζω): save, spare, bring safely through a dangerous or distressing situation; to heal
Anorthoō (ἀνορθόω): to restore, rebuild, strengthen
Sozo (σῴζω): to save, rescue, deliver; to heal; by extension: to be in right relationship with God, with the implication that the condition before salvation was one of grave danger or distress
Iaomai (ἰάομαι): to heal, spiritually, restore from a state of sin and condemnation
Apokatallasso (ἀποκαταλλάσσω): to reconcile, reunite
Anakainizo (ἀνακαινίζω): to bring back, restore, to renovate, to renew
Next I will look up where this word is used throughout the Bible. As I dug into the verses where these words are found, a few themes started to emerge:
Restoration as Healing
Restoration at Now + Not Yet
Restoration as Rebuilding
Restoration as New Life
RESTORATION AS HEALING
One of the primary Greek words for "restore" in the Bible is apokathistémi (ἀποκαθίστημι), which means to set up again, re-establish, or return to an original, pristine condition. It is often used for healing or returning someone to their rightful place.
We see restoration as healing in Mark 8:23-25 when Jesus restores the sight of a blind man. The text says, “Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then, spitting on the man’s eyes, he laid his hands on him and asked, ‘Can you see anything now?’ The man looked around. ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘I see people, but I can’t see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around.’ Then Jesus again put his hands on the man’s eyes, and he saw clearly. His sight was restored, and he saw things distinctly.”
As I read this, I had a few initial thoughts:
First, that Jesus brought the man out of his village, which was most likely out of his comfort zone. For restoration to take place in our lives, sometimes Jesus is inviting us out of our comfort zone. The blind man couldn’t see where he was going, so he had to place all of his trust in Jesus' leading. So perhaps his first act of faith was not believing Jesus could heal him, but rather it was trusting Jesus to lead him, even if healing never followed. (!!!!!)
Second, I love that in this story the blind man was honest with Jesus. He wasn’t afraid of inconveniencing Jesus by communicating that people looked like trees walking around. In response, Jesus touched him again and his sight was completely restored. This might just be a word for me, but maybe someone else out there needs the reminder that your requests are never an inconvenience to Jesus. He has more of himself to pour out on you. And it’s ok to ask him for more– more of his presence, more of his comfort and strength and peace and joy.
Finally, I think that our world right now is like the blind man after his first touch from Jesus. We read in 1 Corinthians 13:12, “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”
Jesus has come once, so as believers we are redeemed and we can have a relationship with him. We can see in part, but one day we will be able to see in full. When Jesus returns, His work will be complete and we will be able to see all things clearly with a fully restored mind, body and soul.
God is at work in your life right now, but to you the people might still look like trees walking around. It might not make sense yet because our vision has not yet been perfected. Oh how I love for the day when the veil is lifted and we see the full picture of what God was up to the whole time.
RESTORATION AS NOW + NOT YET
This leads us into our second theme– that restoration is “now”, but also “not yet”.
We see the Greek word apokathistémi again used in Matthew 12:13, “Then he [Jesus] said to the man, ‘Hold out your hand.’ So the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one!”
And again in Acts 3:19-21 (restoration of all things), “Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of The Lord, and he will again send Jesus, your appointed Messiah. For he must remain in Heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things as God promised long ago through his holy prophets.”
The final question that the apostles asked Jesus before he ascended into Heaven was about restoration:
Acts 1:6-8, …“‘Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?’ He replied, ‘The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere– in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
In these verses, we see that some restoration in our lives is immediate, like the healing of the man’s hand. While some restoration may take a lot longer. The final, full restoration is our promised inheritance in Christ. However, we are not without hope or help while we wait. Christ has given us His power through the Holy Spirit!
RESTORATION AS REBUILDING
The next theme that we see is restoration as rebuilding. The Greek term for this type of restoration is Anorthoo– meaning restore, rebuild or strengthen.
We see this term used in Acts 15:16 when James is speaking and he quotes Amos 9:11-12– “‘In that day I will restore the fallen house of David. I will repair damaged walls. From the ruins I will rebuild it and restore its former glory. And Israel will possess what is left of Edom and all the nations I have called to be mine.’ The Lord has spoken and he will do these things.”
The book of Amos is a prophetic warning to the Israelites that they need to change their ways, turn back to God and repent of their hidden sins. Amos is announcing the coming judgement of God, but the book ends with a promise of restoration. The Lord will rebuild the things that have been destroyed, bring the people back from exile, and restore the line of David, which was a messianic prophecy fulfilled by Jesus.
What things in your life have been destroyed by sin or brokenness? The message of Amos reminds us to run to Jesus in our moments of greatest devastation. He is ready with open arms to forgive, rebuild and strengthen you more and more into who you were created to be.
As I’m saying this, I have a picture of the Acropolis in Athens in my mind. Stick with me for a minute… I’ve been to Greece twice in my life, once in 2007 with a study abroad group from my university, and again in 2022 with a group of friends. Both times I toured the Acropolis in Athens and both times significant portions of it were undergoing serious restorations. The scaffolding was a bit of an eyesore, but you can’t really be mad about it because you know important work is being done. It isn’t always pretty to see, but the end result is of great value. When the restoration work is complete, the building is made new, strengthened and returned to the pristine and masterfully designed work of art that the ancient architects originally intended.
Isn’t this also true of the restoration that God does in our own lives? The process may be slow, it may be painful or look messy, but the end result is one of great beauty and wholeness. Biblical restoration is God bringing His creation– bringing you and I, our world, our relationships, our bodies– back to their original, intended design. We will all face brokenness, sin, and loss in this life, but through Christ, we are promised complete renewal, wholeness, and the healing of what was broken.
I imagine that if I ever find myself back in Athens again, some other part of the Acropolis will still be undergoing restoration. While we are here in this life, things continue to crumble and decay. We are constantly in need of fresh healing and restoration from The Lord.
However, like we talked about earlier in the episode, we are promised that this is not all there is. God has already written the end of the story and we are given a glimpse of it in Revelation 21:1-7 …
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.
Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.
Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life. The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son.”
We are promised a new heaven and a new earth. Everything will be made new and restored to right relationship with The Lord. Until that final day, we can still experience new life in Christ in the here and now.
RESTORATION AS NEW LIFE
So the final theme that I want to end on today is restoration as new life.
Psalm 51 is King David’s prayer for restoration after his affair with Bethesda. He cries out to God with a humble spirit of repentance. He says:
Be gracious to me, God,
according to your faithful love;
according to your abundant compassion,
blot out my rebellion.
Completely wash away my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I am conscious of my rebellion,
and my sin is always before me.
Against you—you alone—I have sinned
and done this evil in your sight.
So you are right when you pass sentence;
you are blameless when you judge.
Indeed, I was guilty when I was born;
I was sinful when my mother conceived me.
Surely you desire integrity in the inner self,
and you teach me wisdom deep within.
Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Turn your face away from my sins
and blot out all my guilt.
God, create a clean heart for me
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not banish me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore the joy of your salvation to me,
and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit.
Then I will teach the rebellious your ways,
and sinners will return to you.
We see here that restoration with God begins with turning from our sins in true repentance. As New Testament believers, we also know that the work of Jesus on the cross gives us new life with Him. We are free from our sinful nature and given new life in Christ.
Romans 6:4, “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here!”
Romans 8:10-11 Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.
FINAL THOUGHTS
We have only scratched the surface on this topic of restoration, there are so many more verses that we didn’t have time to dive into today, but I encourage you to continue to dig deeper into the topic of restoration and see what The Lord reveals to you in your own study. Or choose your own word! In the Next Steps section of the show notes, I’ve included a few easy steps to follow to do your own Word Study!
I want to end where we began– with the journal entry that I wrote. Except this time, I have changed it to read as a note from Jesus to you. Let these words wash over your soul:
You are already restored. I already see the full, complete picture of who I created you to be and you are fully healed, redeemed, restored and vibrant– shining bright for my glory. In this moment, your heart is breaking, but I see time differently and in me, your restoration is already complete. So hold course, hold tight to your faith, because in the blink of an eye you will be dancing in my arms. Joy, hope and peace are already yours and you will feel them again soon. So don’t lose hope, my precious child, for you are already restored.
NEXT STEPS
Here are a few action steps to help you dip deeper this week!
Choose another restoration word to study: Pick one Hebrew or Greek term from the episode and look up 2–3 verses where it appears. Notice what God reveals.
Reflect on your “now + not yet”: Make two lists: what God has already restored in your life, and what you are still waiting on. Thank Him for both.
Conduct your own word study:
Ask God to lay a word on your heart
Look up the English definition
Look up the Greek + Hebrew definitions
See where this word is used in Scripture, analyze the word in context
Ask God to reveal new things to you about this word and how to apply it to your life
Thank you, as always, for listening! Please remember that everything we do is funded by those who benefit from our ministry. Our ministry a 501(c)3, so your contribution is tax-deductible.
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Jes French: @jesafrench
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The Collected Podcast is produced by Jes French and edited by Jacob Early. Cover art designed by Ben Biondo.