the years the locust ate and the years ahead of us

In Bible Study, the other day, we were talking about all that chronic illness has taken from us; the answers varied, but the heartbreak was the same: careers, years abroad, traveling, creating a family, independence, etc., because no matter what was quote unquote taken from us, we were all still wrestling with some form of grief.

Someone mentioned the verse from the book of Joel (2:25): “I will restore to you the years which the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army which I sent among you.”

God is making a beautiful and mighty promise of restoration, hope, and renewal. A lot of us shared about looking forward to this restoration when we enter the gates of Heaven.

We won’t remember the pain that crippled us in bed, the fatigue that weighed us down, the weeks of doctor appointments, and the days, months, and years these horrible illnesses have taken from us.

Honestly, the feeling of never remembering the pain I was in? It sends chills up my spine (as I’m writing this, holding back from going to sleep just so I might have a break from the excruciating discomfort.)

We should always look ahead to Heaven because that’s going to be joy in its purest form, but during our time on earth, what about the years ahead?

The locusts had a feast; they really went to town.

There are years of my life I would never choose to repeat. There are years and so many events and seasons I wish illness hadn’t touched and ruined. Years I wish friendships hadn’t fallen apart. Years I wish I’d been less afraid.

But here lies the simple truth. We spend too much of our lives standing in the field, standing in the ruins, still harboring over everything the locusts ate.

My health.

My young adult years.

People I used to call friends.

A future I had planned for myself.

The list goes on, and on, and on….

I’m sure you have those aches too, but listen, we’re still standing in the field, seeds in hand, and all we have to ask God is one question: “What are we planting?”

Friend, God is doing the restoring now, whether we see or feel anything. God does NOT sit stagnant, Netflix and chilling, looking down at us here saying, “Well, that really sucks; you’re waiting until you get to Heaven because I don’t want to do anything about it right now.”

God is active, constantly moving in the unfairness, in the grief, in the pain, in the tears, in the “God, just please take this away!”

Restoration doesn’t happen overnight, but the good thing? God has been working on this for years before the locusts ever arrived.. Plant the seeds, sow, and watch how God will take what you have done and water your crops. Harvest time is coming.

I can’t tell you what the harvest will look like or how long it will take. But we plant, we trust, we believe in the steadfastness and sovereignty of God.

The locusts may have eaten some of the years we leave behind, but their destruction does not own the years ahead.