What the locust swarm has left
the great locusts have eaten;
what the great locusts have left
the young locusts have eaten;
what the young locusts have left
other locusts have eaten.
Sometimes, life can get overwhelming. Sometimes it can take us to the breaking point.
- An unexpected illness.
- A relationship goes sour.
- The loss of a loved one.
When things like this start to pile up, we begin to feel desperate, desperate for relief, for an end to it. We pray, begging God for help. To cope. To stop the pain. To take the burden.
The book of Joel tells us of another time of devastation when the Locusts came. They ate everything in sight. There was no wine left, no vines or trees, no harvest. There is so much devastation that Worship was disrupted because there was nothing for the offering.
When it gets so bad that it interferes with our relationship with God, that’s serious.
Many of the people here at The Caring Place have seen their share of disasters. They have faced many of these circumstances and some even more devastating. For many, their view of God has been skewed and they will often blame Him. Or else they will deny His existence. Filled with shame and unresolved anger, they turn to something different to cope with their devastation. This makes it very difficult to help them.
When disaster and devastation come upon us, what do we do? What can we do?
We stop everything and turn back to God. Joel 1:14 says to put on sack cloth and mourn, fast, pray – calling out to God.
We mourn - we express our emotions. We recognize our grief and work through it.
We fast - we get rid of all distractions and we spend time with God, focusing on seeking Him.
We pray – Joel says to gather the elders – so we call the elders, church leaders, and ask them to gather with us and pray with us. Here at The Caring Place there are many staff who can stand in that place.
Many people that we work with here don’t know the healing power of Jesus Christ our Lord. They need people to guide them to Him. They need us to step in and pray for them - pray with them. And as difficult as it is to reach them, it’s actually easier than it would be if they were rich and successful.
And when we reach them, they are able to find life again.
And God says…
25 “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—
the great locust and the young locust,
the other locusts and the locust swarm [f]—
my great army that I sent among you.
26 You will have plenty to eat, until you are full,
and you will praise the name of the LORD your God,
who has worked wonders for you;
never again will my people be shamed.
27 Then you will know that I am in Israel,
that I am the LORD your God,
and that there is no other;
When we turn to God when devastation strikes we find restoration.
- He restores what was lost.
- He offers comfort
- Everything the locusts have eaten will be returned.
- He will give even more, pouring out his Spirit on us
Many here have found that healing. Many have had their lives restored. God has poured out His Spirit on many. We praise Him for that and we give Him all the glory.
grace… Kathie
by Major Kathie Chiu
