Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Already freaking not yet

"Then I will make up to you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the creeping locust, the stripping locust and the gnawing locust, the great army which I sent among you. You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you; then My people will never be put to shame. This you will know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and there is no other; and My people will never be put to shame." (Joel 2.25-27)

Anyone else ever feel like there have been locusts that have come through and just destroyed you? I feel like that a lot. In fact, I feel like that tonight. I spent the better part of my drive home begging God to take away the pain of the locusts' destruction. I want to know why I still struggle, why the locusts remain in my memory? Why can't they just be nothing more than the smallest of memories? I've repented; I've turned back to the Lord. So why? I want to be vindicated. I want to be restored fully. I want to feel that joy/satisfaction/redemption. And it sucks that it's not like that right now.

But Joel 2 reminded me that YHWH is doing that. He's done it. The curse of disobedience was broken on the cross. But it's an ongoing process. Which sucks too. YHWH promised to make up to His people the pain, the misfortune, the destruction they endured in disobedience due to their repentant hearts. If He promised it for the people of Judah, I think it's possible for us too.

1 comment:

Jamie said...

Hi Sarah,
I came over to check your blog from a post you left at SCL. I can totally relate to this post. I was just last night struggling with thoughts of a locust eaten portion of my life and how I'd really like the restoration to be NOW! I know its a process though. Thanks for the reminder & encouragement.
p.s. I'm a huge fan of crunchy leaves - your picture below made my day!