Written by a Cafe 1040 Student

While in South Asia, RESTORATION, has become a word that the Father has been giving me. At first I did not know what that meant, but through the weeks I have begun to realize different aspects of His character that He is trying to restore in me. God is good, and always will be. We go through trials but the Father uses them to restore and grow us. I desire to have "pure joy" when going through trials (James 1:2). When we are physically ill, God is still good. When the enemy tries to tear our team apart, God is still good.

Also God is a dad. I have rarely used the word "dad" or "father" to refer to God, until Cafe 1040. It never seemed right or felt right. I typically saw Him as a distant, sovereign, powerful Dad, but struggled to see Him as a personal "dad".

Through my teammates I have seen and experienced the intimacy of the Father in ways that I have never experienced it before.

Referring to God as "dad" has helped restore that aspect of His character to me. God is trustworthy. I am still a work in progress (hence why I am using the word "restored" and not "redeemed"). I know that the Father has redeemed me, but the restoration process will continue as I continue to surrender my insecurities and fears to Him.