“Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you” (2 Corinthians 13:11).

In the midst of these admonitions Paul reminded us to “strive for full restoration.” “Restoration” is an interesting word. It was used in secular Greek culture of the setting of a broken bone. Anyone who has broken a bone can testify that healing requires time and rest. All of us face times when we are broken in some way. We come to Jesus with varying degrees of problems. The good news is that restoration and healing are possible. Part of God’s plan for us is healing of the hurts and brokenness we have sustained through the years.

Unity and harmony with others are goals worth pursuing. Once we are becoming healthy ourselves we want healthy relationships with others. That is what the Christian life offers—personal and relational healing.

How do we achieve these goals? It takes more than our natural abilities. Here is God’s promise to each of us. He will be with us and He is a God of love and peace. His love is the most powerful healing force in our lives and His peace is the cure for all our broken relationships. In a letter that focused on God’s grace, Paul concluded by pointing out what His grace can mean for any of us. God’s presence brings personal healing and leads to healthy relationships with others.