While I don’t remember the specific situation I was walking through, her words are forever etched in my mind. Many years have passed since that evening, in a quiet corner of the library, when a friend took my hand and prayed Scripture over me. She prayed:
“Lord, restore to Sharon what the locusts have eaten and bring into existence what has not yet been.”
Her words resonated hope and light in the difficult and dark parts of my battered heart.
Locusts are said to be mostly solitary, but under certain or suitable conditions, they swarm and destroy. In Exodus 10:13-20, when Pharoah refused to release the Israelites from slavery, God sent a plague of locusts upon Egypt. The locusts literally devoured every living plant and tree in the land.
While I have never endured a plague of locusts, throughout my life I have endured countless metophorical locusts:
The gnawing locust that undermined truth.
The swarming locust that preyed on my insecurities.
The creeping locust that obliterated my signifiance and purpose.
The stripping locust that robbed me of my hopes and dreams.
Sometimes the locusts swarmed quickly and left behind utter destruction. Other times, I was oblivious to their gradual annilation until it was too late.
I often underline Scripture and write in my Bible. I underline verses that speak to my heart, make comments and observations, and record sermon points. I usually jot down the date and, if the reading was part of my quiet time, a journal entry will expand on my take-away. Almost always, if I open my Bible to a page with underlining or comments, I will pause to reread my notes. Recently, I opened my Bible and a small inked heart caught my attention. I read Joel 2:25-27:
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, My 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. Thus 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.
My heart joyfully skipped a beat.
I need to testify that God has restored what the locusts have eated!
Truth prevails in my life. Scriptural truth of who I am in Christ: His beloved and His chosen.
Truth blots out my fleshly insecurities and silences my negative self-talk.
Truth that says I am significant. I was created for God’s purpose and to accomplish His will. I have a renewed hope and excitedly pursue God-breathed dreams.
Indeed, the Lord has called into being that which had not existed (Romans 4:1b) and He will continue to do so! I know first-hand that all things are possible with God (Matthew 19:26) and nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37).
If you are going through a difficult season, be encouraged, my friend. God is faithful. His word truthfully proclaims that He causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him, to those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
Amen and AMEN!
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