Joel Chapter 1. I have never seen anything like this before in all my life!
Joel prophesied to the people of Judah after a swarm of locust have just invaded their whole land and wiped out their crops. The question asked was, “Has anything like this ever happened in your days?” No! This is something that will be told to all generations.
I couldn't help but think about the pandemic. Has anything ever happened like this in my day? No! It has affected the whole world. Perhaps God is calling us today to respond just as he called Judah to respond to their pandemic.
Got calls for the people to wake up and realize their need to repent from sins. The land is totally destroyed by the locusts (that God sent) and now, all the people wail and are in mourning.
The place is in such desolation but not without hope. God gives the following instructions:
1. Put on sackcloth: in other words come before God totally broken and humbled.
2. Declare a holy fast: make a commitment to repent from sins and a commitment to be holy before God.
3. Cry out to the Lord: yes emphasis to cry out because the act of “crying out” is the acknowledgment that one's circumstances cannot be overcome without the mighty hand of God.
1, 2, and 3 are key ingredients in changing one's life and capturing the heart of God to change a hopeless situations. God responds and brings hope to hopeless situation and Light to what seems to be a moment of total darkness. What seems to be impossible becomes possible with God.
Thank you Lord!