BLOG 4.21.20. “I WILL RESTORE TO YOU THE YEARS WHICH THE LOCUST HAVE EATEN.”

In the bleakest years of Israel’s history (6^th to 9^th centuries BC) the prophet Joel reminded the Israelites that they were to be glad and to rejoice because the Lord would give them abundant rain, would fill the vats with wine, and would “restore the years which the locust has eaten” (Joel 2:23-25).

We need this reminder during this quarantine under which are living, when we, as the church, are not even able to meet together and encourage one another face to face. It may be that this is our most beautiful occasion to teach and encourage one another. Yes, it may be a beautiful time to encourage our faithful pastors and church leaders of our love and prayers for them. They have every reason to be anxious about the life and welfare of the Christian community for which they have oversight.

Hopefully, there are those others in the church community with whom you have warm relationships, and with whom you can share encouragement by way of text messaging, phone calls, and e-mail. I, having been sequestered for a year due to an injury, can testify how refreshing and what a blessing are communications with my friends in the family of God, and how much I am provoked to keep contact and to pray for them.

Having been a pastor for fifty years, I can also affirm to my readers here how much our pastors need to have communication with us as they seek to minister to us on-line during this pandemic. Share with them your faith journey, and your meditations in response to their on-line teachings. (Don’t overwhelm them, but let them know of your love).

Then, … remember that we are a people of hope. “Now may the God of hope bill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13). Ours is a future and a hope. Stay tuned.

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