ORDER OF IMPACTFUL YEARS

“So I WILL RESTORE to you the YEARS that the swarming locust has eaten…” – Joel 2:25

GOD responds to sincere repentance and fervent cries, by restoring the ORDER of IMPACTFUL YEARS: “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you” (Joel 2:25). If we believe, repent, trust in Him, the Author of Life is able to restore whatever years we might have wasted or lost in disorderly, careless or reckless living.

Joel’s first chapter uses the imagery of locusts to warn the people of Israel of God’s judgment. This second chapter delves into what the reaction to a Holy God should be – repentance (vv.12-18). They needed to acknowledge and receive God’s mercy through repentance. In merciful response, the Lord promised to provide for their every need (v.19), protect them from enemies (v.20), and guarantee their joy, rather than allow fear (vv.21-22). Even the rain was evidence of God’s faithfulness (v.23); and finally, the reversal of the effects of locusts’ invasion (v.25). After prophesying their destruction by locusts, drought, and a mighty army, God gave Joel a prophecy of goodness and mercy for His people.

Though he was speaking to a nation, we can reflect on these promises at our personal level. This beautiful promise of restoration for Israel is also true for every stumbling believer who has ever walked away from God for a season. When we allow Him to work in our souls, we give Him the access to clean out the havoc that the locust – the invading army – of sin had wrecked, and build up what was eternally ordained, by His Spirit. God works everything together to restore what sin had cost us (Rom.8:28). There is no length He will not go to restore His living, breathing creation, who are made in His image!

Sin always has a destructive effect in a person’s life, such as in those who have given themselves over to sinful addictions. It results in wasted days, months, and even years, often leaving imprints on the body and mind. But when they turn their lives back over to God, He promises to restore and make them new again. All the wasted years are redeemed and restored by our merciful and gracious God. For the nation of Israel, we watch in amazement as Abraham’s children are being gathered back to the land, established and restored, even to this day. As we watch God faithfully restoring them, we should be encouraged that the Ultimate Restorer will also restore His Order to wasted years and injured lives of the backslidden.

God will restore us from all the troubles of the past, heartaches from broken relationships, struggles from defeat and frustration, and all the blighted years. The enemy will always try to intimidate and harass us but we must do what Paul says, “forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13-14). We cannot change the past, reverse or relive it. But we can forget it and press on (Isa.43:18-19)! We can give over to God past regrets and present anxieties, and trust Him to restore what has been lost. We can learn from the failures and falls of the past and resolve to live fully for Christ henceforth.

Collectively, the same promise applies to Churches and Nations: “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chr. 7:14). God, through Christ, not only restores wasted years, He empowers us for impactful years, filled with supernatural joy, peace and victory, far beyond human comprehension! He accomplishes more in us, for us and through us than we ever thought possible. He crowns our years with His goodness and His paths drip with abundance, as we press on toward the prize of our high calling in Him (Psa.65:11; Phil.3:14).