Joel 2:25 (KJV)
And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
The above Scripture affirms that we serve a God of restoration. God promised the children of Israel complete restoration of the years lost to fruitlessness, wasted efforts, captivity, famine, and poverty. He promised to restore what the enemy stole in the destruction brought upon them by their sin and rebellion. By nature, when locusts attack crops, they eat up the current harvest and destroy the buds and seeds of future harvests. God promises not only to restore the stolen but also to restore the years of future production. That led them into a new era of joy, peace, and prosperity that did not come from their labor. Even when adversaries unjustly take what does not belong to them, we must not linger in defeat or dwell on the past. Instead, let us embrace God’s Promises with unwavering faith, for He is eager to restore everything the enemy has stolen from us. It is written in Psalms 126:1-2, “When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them.”
Restoration is the power of God that returns something or someone to a state that had previously existed through the redeeming work of Jesus Christ. It is an act of bringing back something that existed before, or that was stolen or taken away. God is perpetually at work, bringing life to all of nature from the depths of death. Restoration is said to be complete when a dreadful situation changes to a perfect condition, like healing a wound without leaving a scar. Divine restoration means God is interested in bringing back all our lost glories. Everything can be returned to a former position when God is involved, regardless of years. Whatever God is involved in, such a thing is as good as settled. What belonged to us, or what is due to us, all arrive at once when years are restored. No matter the losses or hardships we’ve faced, God promises to restore what we’ve lost. It can be incredibly encouraging to know that even the most devastating times in our lives aren’t beyond God’s redemptive power.
Beloved, God is still in the business of restoring individuals, families, careers, and businesses. Your time is now! You might have lost something dear to you, but don’t be discouraged because God will restore what the enemy took from you. Do not worry about what was lost yesterday because God has started the process of restoration in your life by rendering your enemies toothless. When you find yourself surrounded by hopelessness, fear, and a sense of captivity, take heart, knowing that God is the God of Restoration. He is eager to make you smile again. He will turn your sadness into joy and your shame into fame. This month, God will restore your household, family, health, and finances. He will repair your name, integrity, and the years that the locust has eaten and make new opportunities for you. The best is yet to come! You will soon forget the years of heartache in the abundance of His favor because He is the only true Restorer. Today, turn toward God, away from your past choices, and He promises to remove your shame and restore you to abundant life in Him. As you pursue God, He will bring you restoration. Look up and never look down in life. Remember, to enjoy total restoration, confess your sins to the Lord, ask Him for forgiveness, and exercise faith in Christ’s substitutionary atonement.
O LORD, thank You for the promise of restoration. Restore the years the adversary has consumed from my life in Jesus’ Name.