He restores my soul

My soul has often needed restoring. I've known people who have restored homes or furniture. Sometimes I've seen before and after pictures of the differences. The "before" picture generally shows something that is damaged, tired, and dirty. The "after" picture is different. Nothing is broken. Everything is clean. It looks like new.

Behold, I am making all things new. (Revelation 21:5)

That promise is given us many times in the Bible, in different ways. It is a familiar prayer to many of us:

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)

I don't know if that kind of before-and-after picture is in anyone else's mind when reading Psalm 23, but it is mine whenever I hear,

He restores my soul. (Psalm 23:3)

It is a hopeful thing, whenever we see our own souls in sad need of restoring, to think: God makes all things new. And when it is done, it may yet be a thing of beauty.