What Does The Bible Say About God Restoring What The Enemy Has Stolen?

Has something been stolen from you – whether physically, emotionally, financially, or spiritually? You may feel hopeless about ever getting back what was lost, but there is hope. The Bible contains promises that God will restore what the enemy has stolen.

In this comprehensive article, we will explore the biblical basis for God’s promise to restore multiplied blessings when something has been taken away.

If you’re short on time, here’s the key point: The Bible, particularly in the Old Testament book of Joel, promises that God will restore to his people more than what was stolen from them.

While this promise was originally given to the nation of Israel, Christians can claim it today through their relationship with Jesus Christ.

The Promise in Joel

Joel 2:25 – God Will Repay You for the Years Stolen

In Joel 2:25, God makes an incredible promise to His people: “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten.”

This verse comes in the midst of Joel’s prophecy about a massive locust plague that had devoured the crops and fields of Judah.

The people were devastated, left wondering how they would survive. But God promised to miraculously restore what was lost and bring abundance again.

This promise has brought hope to many believers throughout the ages who have suffered loss and hardship. God is saying He can give back bountifully what the “enemy” (whether literal or figurative) has stolen.

The years eaten away by pain, lack, frustration or brokenness can be redeemed by God for greater fruitfulness.

The Context of Joel’s Message

Joel was prophesying to the people of Judah in a time of crisis. A massive locust invasion had stripped away their livelihood and source of food.

But Joel declared that if the people repented of their sins and turned back to the Lord, God would pour out His Spirit, restore the years the locusts had eaten, and bring spiritual and material blessing (Joel 2:28-32).

Just as God brought the people comfort in the midst of calamity, He offers comfort and restoration to us today when trouble comes. If we trust in Him, He can revive our souls and give us beauty for ashes (Isaiah 61:3).

How This Promise Applies to Christians Today

For believers today, this promise from Joel has symbolic significance. The “enemy” can represent anything that has harmed us: relationships, words, destructive habits, loss, illness, injustice or our own sinful choices.

These things can eat away the joy, peace and blessings God intends for us. But no matter what we have lost, God is able to restore it abundantly.

He can bring meaning to pain, replace shame with joy, turn mourning into dancing (Psalm 30:11), and revive dreams that seemed dead. He promises to make all things new (Revelation 21:5).

What a comfort to know our years given to the “locust” need not be wasted – God can redeem them!

Of course, God’s restoration may not look the way we expect. But He knows how to bring true healing, fruitfulness and purpose out of the years the enemy has stolen from us. We simply need to trust His loving power and timing to restore what we have lost.

Other Bible Verses About Restoration

Job 42:10 – God Restored Job’s Fortunes

After Job had suffered immense losses, God blessed him with even more than he had before.

Job 42:10 says, “After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.”

This demonstrates God’s amazing power to redeem what was lost and restore us to an even better position. Though Job endured terrible suffering, God rewarded his faithfulness in the end.

Proverbs 6:30-31 – Paying Back Sevenfold

Proverbs 6:30-31 states, “People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger when he is starving.

Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold, though it costs him all the wealth of his house.” This illustrates the principle of restoring what was stolen seven times over.

Though desperate poverty may lead people to steal, justice requires repayment. We serve a just God who requires wrongs to be made right.

Isaiah 61:7 – Everlasting Joy for Your Shame

Isaiah 61:7 declares, “Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance.

And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.”

This promise of restoration speaks to God’s ability to redeem even our most painful experiences. He can take our shame and give us joy, turn our disgrace into inheritance.

With God, not only is restoration possible but miraculous abundance beyond what we can imagine.

Other verses that illustrate God’s restorative power include Joel 2:25, where God promises to restore the years the locusts had eaten, and Revelation 21:5, where God declares He is making all things new.

No matter what the enemy may have stolen, God is able to restore, redeem, and renew us according to His great compassion and faithfulness.

How to Claim God’s Promises of Restoration

Repent of Any Sin

If we have sinned or gone against God’s will, the first step is to repent and ask for forgiveness (1 John 1:9). God promises to forgive us if we confess our sins.

Let go of stubbornness, pride, or any attitudes that have distanced you from God. Approach Him with humility, honesty, and surrender.

Ask God Boldly

God encourages us to come boldly before His throne to “obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

Be bold in asking God specifically for what has been stolen from you, whether relationships, health, finances, opportunities or anything else.

God loves it when we directly ask Him for blessings!

Have Faith in God’s Character

Believe that God is who He says He is. Know that He is loving, merciful, righteous, and just. “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23). Remain confident in God’s trustworthy character.

Be Patient for God’s Timing

Restoration and healing often take time. God works on His schedule, not ours. “It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord” (Lamentations 3:26).

Avoid taking matters into your own hands or forcing solutions. Prayerfully wait on God.

Use Wisdom in Managing Restored Blessings

As God returns what was taken from you, be wise in how you manage it. Make decisions prayerfully and seek godly counsel if needed.

“I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten…” (Joel 2:25). Don’t allow the enemy to steal from you again.

Conclusion

The enemy seeks to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus came to give us life to the full (John 10:10). Through a relationship with Christ, you can claim the promises in God’s Word that he will restore what has been taken from you. He is able to repay you abundantly for all that was lost.

Though restoration may not happen immediately, you can rely on God’s character – he is faithful, just, merciful, and gracious.

He cares deeply about you and longs to bless you. As you walk with him daily, believing his promises, you will see his goodness manifested in your life again and again.