I Will Restore to You….

Our Creator has plans for us. Beautiful and bountiful plans that sometimes, in our minds, take far too long in coming to fruition. Over forty years ago, the Spirit of the Lord promised me that he would restore to me all the years the locusts had eaten. Little did I know at the time, how very much more the locusts were going to eat before restoration would come. 

God made that same amazing promise to his wayward people Israel. They were suffering as a result of grievous sin against him, and yet, even in their sin, he had plans for a better future for them. In the midst of their rebellion against him, he looked on them with compassion and said… “I will restore to you all the years that the locust have eaten.” The locust represented sin. And everyone knows what a swarm of locusts can do. They fly by the millions into a lush and green landscape, and, within a few hours, strip it completely bare.

The locusts of sin had stripped bare the landscape of blessing in the lives of God’s people. The locusts of sin had caused untold misery and suffering, even in the lives of the faithful, because the sins of others had adversely affected them as well. Let’s focus on that for a moment.

Perhaps locusts brought in by parent’s or spouses devoured most or all the good stuff in our lives, leaving a bare and fearsome landscape not of our making. Those who grew up with abusive parents or married abusive spouses understand all too well what that landscape looks like. The locusts devour entire childhoods. The locusts devour happiness and relationships with spouses, family, and friends. The locusts devour finances, along with physical and mental health, and so much more.

But there is always good news for those who belong to Christ. When we don’t give in to bitterness or despair, when we trust in the Lord and do good, when we delight ourselves in him and commit our way to him, we have a loving Creator, who not only died for our sins before we ever knew or loved him but who promises to restore back to us all the years the locusts have eaten. I can’t speak for anyone else, but for me, that’s a LOT!

The Spirit of the Lord spoke that promise to my heart, in a moment when I was being petulant and unappreciative [I immediately repented]. He has been making good on it ever since. He continues to restore to me the years the locusts have eaten… All of them!

Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say REJOICE!

Article by Jocelyn Andersen. Reprint from Adorning His Bride Magazine.