“God Restores“
“And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you” Joel 2:25
Over the past 18 months or so, many have suffered a record number of tough losses- one after the other. The global pandemic that took the world by storm may have swept you, and now you may be feeling like you’ve been knocked off your feet. Even as efforts are gradually underway for a re-introduction to some semblance of normalcy, know that your ultimate hope is in God.
In Joel chapter 2 verse 25, the prophet is speaking to the southern people of Judah and instructs them to turn back to God. They had been subject to a plague of locusts due to their sin, which resulted in their livelihood being ravaged. Like the people of Judah, many can liken the impact of the pandemic to a plague. People are feeling down and out, and do not know how to pick up the pieces to start over again. However, God reveals to us that through repentance, there is a way out.
Sometimes God uses natural disasters to get our attention, which in turn spurs us to repent. Repentance is necessary to be in right relationship with God after we’ve sinned (Acts 3:19). Through sincere repentance, we can recover from any dismal situation and its seemingly lasting effects. Moreover, repentance is more than crying out, it is a commitment to changing one’s mind so as to not repeat the same mistake again. When the people finally repented with sincerity of heart, Joel tells them they would recover from their lost years. If you need to recover from losses- whether it’s time, money, or relationships- the good news is that God restores.
In order to receive this restoration, you must repent. And, in order to repent, you must seek forgiveness. We know that forgiveness requires us to acknowledge our iniquities and where we have fallen short. For this reason, forgiveness is a precursor to restoration. Not everything has to be restored to its original form, but it will be restored to the state that God intends it to be.
So, even if you have lost your footing, know you do not have to forfeit your future. Because God is forgiving, patient, and merciful, there is still time to get it right. This is not the end.
You may have thought you blew it, but remember God restores.
Reflection
In what areas of your life do you need to see restoration? Have you truly repented from your past sins?
Prayer : Father God, I thank You for being the God who restores. It’s been such a tumultuous past couple of months and God I need to recover. I pray today and repent from any of my ways that have been displeasing to You. Thank You for forgiving me and being patient even as I have come to repentance. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Written by Deborah Nimoh
Recent Comments