Restoration

Joel 3: 25,26
“The Lord says, “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts and the cutting locusts;
It was I who sent this great destroying army against you; Once again you will have all the food you want and you will praise the Lord your God who does these miracles for you.”

Joel prophesied in a time of significant drought and locust infestation in the land of Judah. Chapter 1 and the first part of Chapter 2 of Joel, describes God’s judgment in the land and the terrible desolation by the locusts and lack of rain, emblematic of the inner sickness eating away at the hearts of the people. It is a serious call for the people to repent seeking God’s mercy.

Joel 2: verses 18 -20 state God’s promise to them for restoration and refreshment. What has taken your joy? What have you lost? What gnaws away at you? Do you sit in devastation in a feeling of hopelessness because of bad choices or the bad choices made by family members? God is the source of all life-giving rain, the One who sends the rains of righteousness to refresh our dry parched soul, just as He did for the people of Israel. Though we suffer loss because of bad choices and face many difficulties, God is the giver of restoration and fulfillment in life through our sincere repentance and His gift of salvation.

We are lost and sin sick of soul, maybe because we’ve lost our way in the consequences of bad choices or maybe we’ve never come to a saving knowledge of Christ at all. Where ever we find ourselves, God gives us a serious call to repent and seek His mercy. We must come to Him without compromise, seeking His face and divine direction, and watch Him bless and restore! He is the God of miracles. What is it that you need restored?