What happens when the locusts leave?

When it rains… it pours! We’ve all heard this saying many times in our lives and isn’t it true? I mean if it’s not, it at least feels like it. When things are happening in your life, it never feels like one of those summer rains when it’s been too hot. No…it feels like a straight downpour with thunder and lightning! No drizzling over here!  Do you remember the plague of the locusts that God sent when Moses was trying to get Pharaoh to let the people go? It was an epidemic that consumed what was left of the crops in Egypt’s fields and again showed God’s authority and power. It was powerful and overwhelming.   Many of us have experienced stretches like this is in 2012. The hard times or the emotional issues or the relationship problems overwhelmed you to the point that you wanted to give up. You probably felt like the victim of a plague or a never ending rainstorm.  I’m here to tell you today that there is restoration and healing at the end.

I was led this morning to Joel 2 and then the words “What happens when the locusts leave” popped into my spirit. Wooooo! It gave me chills. But I then wanted to know where the Lord was going with this. Locusts are big bugs that fly, some would say they are in the grasshopper family. I personally, HATE crickets & grasshoppers…things that jump at me or even worse fly at me… freak me out! So imagining a swarm of them taking over a land would be enough to turn me around. Obviously, it’s what happened to the Israelites. Once again they had fallen off spiritually. They were doing well financially but turned away from God and focused on their material wealth. So…God sent something to get their attention. Chapter 2 of Joel describes them as an army that methodically swept through the land terrifying the people and overwhelming everything in its path.  It was so bad that different types of locusts appeared. “What the chewing locust left, the swarming locust has eaten; what the swarming locust left, the crawling locust has eaten; and what the crawling locust left, the consuming locust has eaten.” (Joel 1:4 NKJV)  Isn’t that something? It’s like what your job didn’t take, your spouse took and what they left, the burdens of your past took.

I have noticed something though. Often times these valleys and struggles have served to get our attention. Think about it. Don’t hard times wake you up and send you running back to prayer and the Bible? In the midst of their situations, God speaks and He tells the Israelites some things that would serve us well. “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.  Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.”(Joel 2: 12 -13 NLT) Instead of focusing on the physical aspects of your pain, change your life, adjust your heart. There are lessons in everything. They call everyone together – elders, children, babies- and the priests intercede and the Lord hears. I often tell people if you want to see a different result, you have to do something different. If you’ve been struggling on your own, seek out the elders of your church or your community and ask them to intercede on your behalf. God wants to restore. He’s not a God that likes to see His people suffer because He loves us.

He loves us enough to make the locusts leave. They have to! When God promises new blessings in verse 20, He also promised to get rid of the locusts. Your emotions that have wreaked havoc in your life, they have to come in order! Your finances that have stressed you out, they have to come to order! Your marriage that has caused all those sleepless nights, it has to come to order. When He gets rid of the struggles in your life, He puts it back in order because that’s who He is. A God of order! It however, requires you to turn your face to him for all of your help. No more battling the locusts alone. Just do what He says and let Him do the work.

I know it’s been hard. Sometimes you don’t even know how you got where you are. You look back over the last few months and all you see are tears and struggle but guess what God promises you restoration. The Lord says, “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.  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 shall never be put to shame. Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the Lord your God and there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame.” (Joel 2: 25 -27 NKJV)  Everything that you have lost to your struggles will be restored to you. It doesn’t matter what overwhelming battle you have faced, whether it’s finances, emotions, or relationships. God can and will give you everything back. How? Trust Him at His word and step out of the way!

And it gets better. Restoration is just the beginning! He will then pour out His Spirit and show signs and wonders. So if you are drowning in what seems like a swarm of locust, and you’re struggling to see your way out, please know that God is faithful and He is present. He wants your whole heart so that he can bless you and restore you!

May your clouds turn to sunshine and you trade your heaviness for garments of praise! AMEN…