When you delete a message on your iPhone, it’s not really gone- it’s just hidden. If you want to view your deleted messages, you can do so without restoring your iPhone from a backup.
To view your deleted messages, open the Messages app and go to the “Recents” tab. Tap the “Edit” button in the top-right corner, then tap the red “Delete” button next to the message you want to view.
A deleted message will still be visible in the …