Restoration in Progress.
Dear Friend,
I was walking along the beach the other day whilst visiting the south coast, when a small sign caught my eye: Dune Restoration in Progress. It was simple, almost easy to miss, but it stirred something deep in me.
That word restoration has lingered in my thoughts ever since.
It made me think of the season we’re in. Winter often feels still, even barren at times. But nature knows this is not a season of absence, it’s a season of quiet repair. Beneath the surface, roots are deepening, the earth is resting, and healing is happening in ways we cannot yet see.
Jesus meets us in the same way. He doesn’t rush our becoming or demand constant growth. He gives us space to slow down, breathe deeply, and allow His restoring work to unfold.
In Psalm 23, we’re reminded: “He restores my soul.” That kind of restoration isn’t hurried, it’s gentle, intentional, and full of grace.
Just like the dunes being slowly rebuilt after the storms, we too are invited to honour the process. To see winter not as a pause in our purpose, but as a sacred invitation to rest, reflect, and be renewed.
So if this season feels quiet, even a little heavy - don’t lose heart. You are not stuck. You are being lovingly restored. Give yourself permission to rest. To be present. To be held. Your restoration is already in progress.
With love,
Lauren
Lauren Harkness
Canberra, ACT
Founder, At Her Table
