"Rejoice, you people of Jerusalem! Rejoice in the LORD your God! For the rain he sends demonstrates his faithfulness. Once more the autumn rains will come, as well as the rains of spring." (Joel 2:23)
We usually think of the rain as the difficulties in our life - as something bad that only causes us pain, but here it says the rain demonstrated God's faithfulness! The rain during the storms of life may not feel good, may get us 'wet' and feel yucky. But it is also the rain that gives LIFE. We need the rain to survive. We should be still and soak in the rain when it comes, knowing that His rain brings us life.
"The threshing floors will again be piled high with grain, and the presses will overflow with new wine and olive oil." (Joel 2:24)
After the rain comes the harvest. The more we soak in that rain, the greater our harvest.
"The LORD says, "I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts. It was I who sent this great destroying army against you." (Joel 2:25)
He promises to restore what was lost! What are the locusts? Sin. Rebellion. The enemy's attacks. We allowed them to take away those years - to be unfruitful. But God promises to give us back those years...to restore and redeems us. He says He sent the locusts! He did it to make us aware of our sin and rebellion - so we'd recognize our need for Him! He doesn't want to hurt us - He wants us to come to Him so that He can bless us.
"Once again you will have all the food you want, and you will praise the LORD your God, who does these miracles for you." (Joel 2:26)
We will have everything we need! We will praise God, our Redeemer! Why not praise Him IN the rain!?
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
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