Worn but Still Strong: How God Restores Us  

This week, my husband Clay and I finally got around to redoing the floor in one of our rooms. Our house was built in 1960, which means the flooring was at least sixty-five years old. As we pulled up those beautiful yet warped and worn oak floorboards, I couldn’t help but think about how life changes us.  

Over the years, that floor had endured countless footsteps. It had held the weight of furniture being moved, withstood spills and scratches, and felt the daily wear of life. Though it had once been pristine, time had left its mark. Some boards had warped, some had deep grooves where furniture had scraped repeatedly, and others had faded from years gone by. It was still oak, still strong, still solid, but the years had changed it.  

Isn’t that how life shapes us too?  

We start fresh, full of hope and possibility, but over time, life leaves its marks. We go through trials that scratch at our faith. We carry the weight of burdens that press down on us. Some moments feel like deep wounds, leaving behind scars we think will never heal. The pressures of life—disappointments, failures, losses—can make us feel warped and worn, just like those old floorboards.  

As we worked to restore the floor, I realized something: just because something is worn doesn’t mean it’s worthless.  

That wood still had value. It had a history. The imperfections told a story, revealing years of life lived within the walls of our home. The same is true for us. The things we go through may change us, but they do not take away our worth. In Christ, we are still strong.  

Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9:

“We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.”

No matter how life has worn us down, we are not destroyed. God is still at work, restoring and renewing us.  

As we pulled up the damaged boards, I thought about how God does the same with our hearts. He takes the broken parts of us—the disappointments, the hurts, the fears—and begins a process of renewal. Sometimes, it means letting go of things we once held onto, just like we had to remove the boards that were too damaged to stay. Other times, it means smoothing out the rough edges, refining us through challenges and growth.  

But the beauty of restoration is that nothing is wasted.  

Even the painful seasons, even the struggles, God can use them. He doesn’t discard us when we feel broken. Instead, He restores us. He sands down the rough edges, fills in the cracks with His grace, and strengthens us through His presence. What looks like wear and tear to us is often just evidence of a life lived, a testimony of how God has sustained us through every season.  

So, if you’re feeling worn down, take heart. The same God who created you is still working on you. Like that oak floor, no matter how life has changed you, your strength comes from the One who made you. In His hands, you are being renewed into something even more beautiful than before.