So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten. . . (Joel 25:a)

Have you ever had a bad day or week that seemed to never end? For some people, it may have been an entire year that brought nothing but heartache and despair. Most of us have experienced periods of bad times in our lives that just wouldn’t quit.

In the book of Joel, the prophet describes how a cloud of locusts settled on Judah, killing and stripping every green thing from the land. During his day, locusts ate up all the peoples’ crops and green plants, leaving nothing behind except brown and empty lands. This was pure devastation.

Joel sees the locusts as a judgment from God and begs the people to turn away from their sins and repent. He calls on the priests to declare a fast and gathers the people to God’s house to cry out to the Lord. The people respond and beg God to spare His people.

God responds by driving the locusts from the land. He then promises His people that He will restore the years the locusts have eaten.

I’m not saying that the hardships you may be going through has been caused by some sin in your life. What I am saying, however, is that you do need to cry out to the Lord and keep calling on His name until relief comes or He gives you peace about your situation.

Only God can restore what’s been taken away from us. We try so many other things to ease our pain or help us when we’re in distress. God should always be our first choice when things in our lives are going badly. If you find yourself in a place where your need restoration, don’t lose hope. All is possible with God.

Blessings,

Joyce