I remember when I started reading the book of Joel. I had recently attended a Living Proof Live conference with Priscilla Shirer, and she had taught us her 5 Ps of Bible Study. I wanted to put the system to the test, so I chose a short book in the Bible that I didn’t know too much about. It’s funny how God leads you to things because, if I had known that Joel is a book about locusts, I probably would have done a 180 right into another book.

I struggled through the first few days of “poring over the passage” and “paraphrasing the major points.” The major points? It’s about locusts! How on earth was I going to “pull out any spiritual principles” and apply them to my life? Because…LOCUSTS. Some of my notes are along the lines of “I don’t know what to do with this passage.” Some passages brought more questions than answers.

What I haven’t told you is I was going through a deep mourning in my life. During the time I was studying this passage, my dad was being shuffled between nursing homes and the hospital because he kept falling down: locusts. He was forgetting how to swallow and was wasting away: locusts. I had recently started homeschooling my kids, so I had lost a big part of my community: locusts. My kids were struggling with loneliness as a result of our decision: locusts. My relationship with my family was strained: locusts. I was terrified that I would inherit my dad Alzheimer’s and was frantically searching for preventative measures: locusts.

Though I wasn’t experiencing judgment from God for turning my back on Him, I began to understand what the Israelites must have felt. The truth is the bad things that happen in this life may not be directly connected to my personal sin, but they are the result of sin.

As I ended chapter 2 of the book of Joel, God makes a promise. If the Israelites will turn back to Him, He “will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten.” I came to this passage shortly after my dad had gone to Heaven. What a hope it gives me!

Not everything the locusts have eaten will be restored to me here on earth, but little by little, I have watched God mend broken relationships, give me and my kids an amazing community of friends, and take away my fears of illness. And when I get to Heaven EVERYTHING will be restored!

But wait… there’s more!

Not only will God restore what the locusts have eaten, but He will bring His armies to fight for you! He will be your Strength and your Defender! All who come against you will know that you have God on your side! That’s the end of the book of Joel: an amazing promise of protection and victory.

Often we avoid the books of the Bible that we can’t understand at first glance. We prefer to read the books that make us feel good or give us a step-by-step checklist or keep us entertained with a story line. But the entire Bible is a love letter from God, and when we pick and choose or skip over portions of it, we miss big chunks of the beautiful picture of love and redemption.

Think About It:

1. Is there a book of the Bible the Holy Spirit has nudged you toward, but you have avoided?
2. Can you recognize “locusts” in your life that you need to surrender to God?