Restoring Lost Years
Joel gave a very encouraging message to Israel when he delivered God's words to them. God told Joel to tell the people that He would make up for the years the locust had eaten. (Joel 2:25) Locust were devastating to the local economy when everyone depended on the crops for their source of income. If they missed getting a harvest one year, it could be years before they made up their losses. However, that is not so with the Lord. He can restore those years without any problem. Have you experienced losses in your life? We all have, so we all need to hear this message loud and clear.
The interesting thing to me about this verse is that the army of locusts were God's "great army" which He sent among them. It was not the work of Satan or the world. It was God's punishment for their sins. However, with every punishment of God if we will return to Him with repentance and faith, He can and will restore us to a right relationship with Him, and He will restore the years that have been lost, as we fully trust Him. There is no limit to God's ability to restore, but it is always according to His will and His wisdom about our entire situation. We can count on Him being gracious and merciful, like He told Israel He would be, though, because that is His nature.
What have you lost? Are you trying on your own to make it up? If so, make sure your heart is right with the Lord and turn it over to the Him. Then, trust Him to do the right thing in your life. If you need restoration of a loss, He can grant it quickly and completely. If He does not restore it, He will allow you the means to live without any restoration. He knows best.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Amos 2-4.
The interesting thing to me about this verse is that the army of locusts were God's "great army" which He sent among them. It was not the work of Satan or the world. It was God's punishment for their sins. However, with every punishment of God if we will return to Him with repentance and faith, He can and will restore us to a right relationship with Him, and He will restore the years that have been lost, as we fully trust Him. There is no limit to God's ability to restore, but it is always according to His will and His wisdom about our entire situation. We can count on Him being gracious and merciful, like He told Israel He would be, though, because that is His nature.
What have you lost? Are you trying on your own to make it up? If so, make sure your heart is right with the Lord and turn it over to the Him. Then, trust Him to do the right thing in your life. If you need restoration of a loss, He can grant it quickly and completely. If He does not restore it, He will allow you the means to live without any restoration. He knows best.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Amos 2-4.