I think we can all relate to what it feels like to walk through seasons that didn’t go the way we’d hoped. Times of grief and loss from unexpected health diagnoses, broken relationships, or costly regrets over past sins are part of the story of humanity, and we’re all familiar with their pain. For some, those seasons have stretched into years, and the beginning words of Joel 2:25, “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten,” are healing words. 

‍

God doesn’t overlook the things that caused the hardships. Before He restored the years in the Joel passage, He acknowledged and described them, and in verses 12-13, we see Him call for repentance. Joel 12-13 asks for hearts to return to Him, and it provides a reminder that the One calling for our return is gracious, compassionate, patient, and loving. We can’t change what’s already come to pass, but we can choose to turn our hearts to God, and hand over those years to Him. When we do, He gives restoration. 

‍

What once felt unbearable begins to bear the fruit of the One who redeemed it. 

‍

Joel 2:26 talks about both the physical and spiritual aspects of restoration. First, God says there will be “plenty to eat,” which speaks to the provision of our needs. One of the names of God is Jehovah Jireh – the Lord will provide. Provision may look different in each situation, and probably won’t come in the ways we expect, but it’s an aspect of God’s faithfulness we can trust fully. God meets the needs of those He restores (Phil. 4:19).

‍

The second part of verse 26 says, “and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you.” I believe this speaks to the spiritual component of restoration. We change as we invite God to work in our hearts. The more God reveals Himself to us, the more we begin to see His hand at work in our lives. Our shame is covered by His grace, and we become rooted in faith. Faith opens our eyes to the evidence of God’s hand at work around us (Heb. 11:1), and our praise gives Him glory. 

‍

This verse shows how the restoration work begins to bear fruit in our lives. God gives beauty for ashes (Is. 61:3), and in that process, we begin to see that He truly does cause everything to work together for our good (Rom. 8:28). The years are restored to us because of God working in and through us. 

‍

They aren’t erased, but they aren’t wasted either. 

I invite you to surrender your hard things to God. Let Jehovah Jireh step into your situation. Trust Him to bring provision, and to turn it to good in your life. You might not be able to see the good right now, but God is faithful, and He is waiting to bring restoration to the years the locusts have eaten.