It’s Easter. A beautiful reminder of life after loss. Of joy after pain. Of purpose and promise in the midst of our greatest sorrows.
A reminder of restoration. Of redemption. Of resurrection.
If you’ve dealt with any trauma in your life - loss of a loved one, divorce, abuse, significant health issues, addictions, or anything else that has left you feeling like you’d never recover, Joel 2:25 is a verse likely etched into your heart.
“So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust, And the chewing locust…” Joel 2:25 NKJV
I will restore to you the years.
If this verse has ever been made personal to you, you know exactly what I am speaking of.
Other translations use words like “repay back to you” (NIV) , “give you back what you lost” (NLT), “make up for the years” (MSG). And not just restoration of some simple little thing. A giving back of what has been taken from you. Something that has been completely destroyed from every angle - swarming, crawling, consuming, chewing…doesn’t sound like there would be much left to work with.
But God. Who else could take death and use it to breath new life.
Isn’t this a promise that we all cling to? Or at least want to cling to? It may feel a little scary; bold even. It may feel like this promise is for someone else…anyone but you. But it is for you. “I will restore to you…”. A promise that some good will come after tragedy. That hope will replace despair. That joy will come after grief. That light will take place of the darkness that covered you for so long.
That it all won’t be wasted.
And, oh, how we all long for that. That all the pain won't go to waste. That something, anything, will come from the suffering. That the years which seem lost will somehow be made up.
This little verse is a promise that love, joy, peace, and purpose will flow through your veins again.
I see you, friend. And I know it’s hard. But remember that promises given and yet to be received, are still promises. And He is still faithful. They’ll come. Just wait and see.
Photo credit to www.ourstorymagazine.com
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