Tag: Restoration

Restoration, Part 6

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(Photo Credit: Roberto Burgos S.)

“Yet even now,” says Yahweh, “turn to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.” Tear your heart, and not your garments, and turn to Yahweh, your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him . . . . – Joel 2:12-14 (WEB)

If I stop and really think about it, I perceive God very differently at times. Countless times, I have heard that God is a loving God, in songs, in church, and in reading about Him. But I have often pictured the God as quick to anger if I make any mistakes, even little ones. I know He is a loving God, and I have experienced His great love many times. So why do I perceive Him as being quick to anger, especially when Joel 2:13 reminds us that He is “slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness” (Joel 2:13, WEB)? So if God is not the problem, and it never is because He is loving, then the problem is in my perception of Him.

On the other hand, there are times when I have pictured God as not having any emotions, except anger. So as I considered this recently, I think God showed me that I have projected my own thoughts of what a stereotypical male is in terms of emotions, onto God. Males have been called “unfeeling”, “emotionless”, “like a machine”, and other things. But men, and boys, are usually raised and culturally trained to not show the “weaker emotions” like sadness, fear, or even happiness. Anger is often acceptable.

The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry. – Jeremiah 31:3-4

The passage above in Joel, and this one in Jeremiah, reminds us that God is loving and kind. He wants to build us up, not tear us down in anger. I have given God plenty of reasons to be angry with me in my life, and there are times He has been angry with me, and I knew it and deserved it. But every single time I humbled myself and brought myself back to Him, He was there waiting for me in love.

The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. – Zephaniah 3:17

Wow, God actually rejoices over us! He loves us, and although I have never audibly heard God sing, it amazes me to think that the Lord rejoices over me with singing. God sings? Yes, God sings! Who created joy? God created joy! Even if God has been angry with you, humbly turn to Him again. Let Him rejoice over you!

Prayer for today: Heavenly Father, I admit that there are times you have been angry with me. But help me to see that you are not angry with me all of the time. Show me your love, your joy, and your mercy. Let me experience them personally, in ways that I understand. Thank you, Lord. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.

Note: Joel 2:12-14 taken from World English Bible (public domain).

 

 

 

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Restoration, Part 1

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(Photo Credit: Caroline Hoos)

Hear this, you elders, and listen, all you inhabitants of the land. Has this ever happened in your days, or in the days of your fathers? Tell your children about it, and have your children tell their children, and their children, another generation. What the swarming locust has left, the great locust has eaten. What the great locust has left, the grasshopper has eaten. What the grasshopper has left, the caterpillar has eaten. – Joel 1:2-4 (WEB)

Have you ever felt like your life is just being “eaten up”? Gains you make in life appear to be lost. Financial blessings seem to lead to a place of lack. Friendships you thought you could count on are not the same anymore, or they have gone away.

When I left the church, I walked away from the Lord’s blessings and protection. I didn’t think I was leaving God, and I thought I was okay. He never left me, and He still protected me from totally destroying my life, but He did allow me to choose my own way. But that did not stop me from walking away from church.

It was not really until I decided to turn my heart back toward Jesus that the Lord showed me how my life had been eaten up. I missed out on blessings he had intended for me. More importantly, I wasted time in not getting to know Jesus better and growing my relationship with Him. By walking away, I ended up hurting myself.

 Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the Lord; that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt. – Jeremiah 25:7

Prayer for today: Heavenly Father, I have walked away from you. Some of my time on earth has been eaten up. I acknowledge my sin, and turn back to you. I have hurt myself by withdrawing from you. I need you, and ask for your forgiveness and mercy.  In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.

Note: Joel 1:2-4 from World English Bible (public domain)

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