God Longs to Restore You
By Jessica Van Roekel
“I will restore to you the years that the swarming locusts has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people will never again be put to shame. You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else.” - Joel 2:25-27, ESV
Imagine standing on your doorstep and seeing an odd-shaped cloud in the distance. It shimmered and shone in the sunlight and grew ever larger and ever nearer. Before you knew it, the cloud landed on the ground and began eating every blade of grass, stalk of wheat, and the clothes hung out to dry. There was nothing to do except watch helplessly as the swarm of locusts ate everything in their path.
There are times in our lives when we look on the horizon and see storm clouds brewing. It could be an unexpected biopsy that results in an unwanted diagnosis. For some, it might be shifting relationships at work or at home, which brings devastating consequences. We may not meet literal locusts, but we do face hardships that seem to bring destruction to our lives. What can we do?
Despite our hardships, we can focus on spiritual revival, restoration, and renewal in our love and dedication to God. The book of Joel is an Old Testament book with a look toward a future glory in eternity. It reveals the heart of God for his people. From the moment Adam and Eve chose their own way instead of God’s way, God had a contingency plan. His heart was and is for a relationship with us.
He knew we would choose our own way too, which can create hardship through the consequences of those choices. He is also aware of the hardships which come because we still live in a fallen world pockmarked by disease, natural disasters, and others exerting their will in our lives which create unintended consequences of rejection and betrayal. God, in his love for us, provides redemption. He redeems our hearts and lives so we can be in relationship with him. This is what propels us onward in belief and trust in God’s promises to restore.
Our circumstances don’t determine a vibrant, flourishing relationship with God. God is with us, and he is for us no matter what we face. Revival happens when we refuse to turn our hearts away from God when life’s circumstances bring loss. We have two choices when the landscape of our lives looks barren—to turn away from God or turn toward him.
The Apostle Paul is a great example for us. He was a learned scholar leading the charge to imprison and punish those dedicated to sharing the Good News of Jesus. Then, he met Jesus on the Damascus Road. He went from being the leading scholar of the Law to rejection by his former colleagues to early mistrust of the believers of Jesus. He experienced loneliness, trials, shipwrecks, and poverty. But he also knew spiritual revival, restoration, and renewal because he kept his focus on the Lord.
Our situation may seem bigger than we can handle, but we have a bigger God. Unfortunately, our feelings can scream loud enough to drown out God’s whisper, and we listen to the wrong voice. But when we glance out at the ruin brought by a swarm of locusts in the shape of trials and tribulations, we can determine to look beyond what we see to what we know. God has promised restoration. He promises us eternity with him. This is our glory, and when we can hold onto the truth of our future with him, we view our sufferings through a different lens.
In the late 1870s, when the locusts overtook crops and gardens in the American Midwest, many families stayed, but others left farming to pursue another line of work. Those who stayed planted seeds again and discovered how life comes from dirt. The dirt holds the nutrients needed to nourish seeds and plants. Once the seed breaks the surface, the sun and rain do their nurturing work, and if desolation comes again, the soil still does its work once more to bring life to the surface. A heart rooted in God’s love can know restoration even when life’s troubles overtake it.
Intersecting Faith and Life:
Jesus spoke these words in John 16:33, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Troubles are not an if they come but when they come. Because of Jesus’ victory, you can know restoration. If you’re facing heartbreaking news, God can comfort you. If you’re life feels barren, God can grow good in you again. Stand firm in your dedication to the Lord. Remember, God is with you and for you despite what is around you. He brings restoration.
Further Reading:
Joel 2
Preparation for Revival
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Photoboyko
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