Agents of Restoration: Showing Up With the Hope of Jesus

Jesus Is Still Restoring  

Brokenness is not hard to find. It shows up in grief, strained relationships, illness, loneliness, regret, and situations we do not know how to fix. 

When we see someone hurting, it is easy to feel powerless. We may want to help but have no idea what to say. We may pull back because the situation feels too complicated, too painful, or beyond us. 

Acts 9:31-43 gives us a different picture. It shows Jesus bringing hope into two situations that seemed beyond hope. Aeneas had been unable to walk for eight years. Tabitha, a faithful follower of Jesus known for helping people in need, had died. Peter entered both situations, but he was not the source of the restoration. Jesus was. 

That matters for all of us. We are not called to fix every broken situation around us. But if we follow Jesus, we are invited to be available to Him. Jesus restores people, and He often works through people who are willing to show up, point others to Him, and depend on His strength. 

What Happens in Acts 9?

Acts 9 begins with the church being strengthened and encouraged as it grows. Peter travels to visit believers in towns beyond Jerusalem, including Lydda and Joppa. 

In Lydda, Peter meets Aeneas, who has been bedridden because he was paralyzed for eight years. Peter does not draw attention to himself or claim personal power. He says, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you.” Aeneas gets up, and many who see what happened turn to the Lord. 

Then Peter is asked to come to Joppa, where Tabitha has died. Tabitha was known for “always doing good and helping the poor.” The widows gathered in the room to show Peter the clothing she had made for them. Her life had already made a difference because she had noticed people, met practical needs, and loved them well. 

Peter sends everyone out, kneels, and prays. Then he tells Tabitha to get up. Jesus restores her life, and the news leads many people in Joppa to believe in the Lord. 

These events are remarkable miracles. But the passage also makes something unmistakably clear: Peter did not restore anyone. Jesus did. Peter was just willing to be used by Him. 

Restoration Begins With Showing Up  

Peter was moving toward people. He visited believers in Lydda, and when the disciples in Joppa asked him to come, “Peter went with them.” 

That may sound simple, but presence matters. When someone is grieving, sick, overwhelmed, or facing a difficult season, we often feel pressure to say exactly the right thing. If we do not know what to say, we may do nothing. 

But restoration often begins with showing up. 

A text that says, “I have been thinking about you.” A phone call. A visit. Sitting quietly with someone who is grieving. Bringing a meal. Offering to help with a practical need. These actions may not change a person’s circumstances immediately, but they communicate something important: You are not alone. 

Some people reading this may be tired from showing up. You have sat through appointments, listened to the same struggle repeatedly, or stayed close to someone whose situation has not improved. Do not measure the value of love only by visible progress. Your faithful presence matters, even when you cannot see the outcome. 

Others may need to admit that they are the ones hurting. Following Jesus does not mean pretending you are fine or setting aside every need so you can help everyone else. Sometimes the first faithful step is telling another person how you are really doing. We all need care, and Jesus can use each of us to care for someone else. 

Point People to Jesus  

When Peter spoke to Aeneas, he named Jesus clearly: “Jesus Christ heals you.” Peter did not want credit for what only Jesus could do. And when people saw Aeneas restored, they turned to the Lord, not to Peter. 

This gives us a healthy, freeing posture as we care for others. We can serve people sincerely without making ourselves the hero of the story. We can listen, help, forgive, pray, and offer hope. And when there is an appropriate opportunity, we can explain why we have that hope. 

You do not need to force every conversation into a sermon. You do not have to have every answer to spiritual questions. But you can speak honestly about what Jesus has done in your life. You can say, “Jesus has met me in hard places too.” You can offer to pray. You can invite someone to explore faith, read the Bible, or come to church with you. 

The goal is not, “Look what I did.” The goal is, “Look who Jesus is.” 

This is especially important in relationships where we feel responsible for someone else’s choices. You cannot save your child, fix your spouse, remove every consequence, or control another person’s response. You can love them faithfully and point them to the One who can truly restore what is broken. 

Depend on Jesus for the Rest

Tabitha’s story also shows us that faithful love requires dependence on Jesus. She saw needs and used what she had to help people. The clothing she made was not insignificant. It was evidence that people had been seen, cared for, and loved. 

Still, Peter knew that this situation was beyond his ability. Before he spoke to Tabitha, he knelt and prayed. He had seen Jesus do miraculous things, but he did not assume the power belonged to him. 

There are things only Jesus can do. 

You can love someone, but you cannot make them respond. You can parent faithfully, but you cannot control every choice your child makes. You can sit beside someone in a hospital room, but you cannot command disease to leave. You can do the good in front of you and still reach the end of your own ability. 

That is not failure. It is faith. 

Acts 9 does not promise that every prayer for healing will be answered in the exact way we hope. It does not offer a formula for making miracles happen. But it does show us that Jesus sees suffering, hears prayer, and holds ultimate authority over death itself. Tabitha’s restoration points forward to the future Jesus promises His people: a day when He will complete His work of restoration and death will not have the final word. 

Until then, we can pray boldly, love faithfully, and trust Jesus with what remains outside our control. 

One Faithful Step This Week  

One Faithful Step This Week  Where is there brokenness within your reach? 

Maybe it is a friend you have meant to text. A neighbor who is grieving. A family member you have avoided because their situation feels complicated. Maybe it is your own hurt that you need to share with someone you trust. 

You do not need a complete plan. You do not need to fix everything. Ask Jesus to show you one good thing you can do, then take that step. 

Jesus moved toward us in love. Through His death and resurrection, He offers forgiveness for sin, new life, and lasting hope. If you are carrying guilt, shame, or questions you cannot resolve on your own, you can come to Him. And if you already belong to Him, ask Him to use you as someone who carries His hope into a hurting world. 

Reflection Questions  

Where is there brokenness within your reach right now? 

What might it look like for you to show up for someone without trying to fix everything? 

What is one situation you need to place back in Jesus’ hands through prayer? 

Suggested Next Step  

Choose one person this week and take one practical step toward them: send the text, make the call, offer help, listen without rushing to solve the problem, or pray with them. Then ask Jesus to use your presence to point them toward His hope. 

If you are ready to trust Jesus or want to learn more about following Him, connect with The Crossing or join us in Milton, Delaware this Sunday at 9 or 11 am.