Joel 2:25 – 27 I will repay you for the years locusts have eaten – the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm – my great army that I sent among you. You will have plenty to eat until you are full, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed. Then you will know that I am in Israel, that I am the Lord your God, and that there is no other; never again will my people be shamed.

This is a word from God to the people of Israel through the prophet Joel whose name means “Yahweh is God.” Essentially that is the message of the whole book of Joel. Israel had a propensity to sin against God and, as a result, brought great judgment on themselves from time to time. Joel records a time during the reign of King Josiah when the southern kingdom of Judah was set upon by wave after wave of locusts which destroyed their crops leading to devastation and famine. The prophet’s job was to call the people to repent and to recognize God’s sovereignty so that they could be restored and blessed.

When I first drafted this a year ago there were four hurricanes in the news at the same time. Hurricane Harvey had devastated the State of Texas. Hurricane Irma was raging in the Caribbean, with Jose hot on its heels. Hurricane Katie was active in the Gulf of Mexico. Never in my lifetime have there been such massive and destructive hurricanes as Harvey and Irma in such quick succession. Was this judgment? One thing is sure the outcome has been as devastating for many as the plague of locusts was for Judah. We are in a new season now and Hurricane Michael has taken 36 lives in the Florida Panhandle and caused much destruction.

Having survived the ravages of Hurricane Sandy, I know something of the pain, loss, toil, aggravation and seeming injustice which threaten to overwhelm those affected by similar events and the long period of recovery which will follow. Does God not care? Yes he does. He has proven his love for you already at great cost to himself by sending Jesus to die for you. All he asks is your love in return.

Even if you conclude that disaster has overtaken you because you are being judged, then allow yourself the joy of repentance, full disclosure before God and ask for a new beginning. Then listen for his voice, he will be with you as he was with me when the Holy Spirit said: “Look for my hand of mercy in your circumstances as they emerge.” Embrace the kindnesses which will be shown to you. It will surprise you how humane others will be. Take one day at a time, commit it to God and make the progress you can that day. Reach out to someone else even if all you can offer is a hug or a handshake. Know that people are praying for your recovery, others do care that misfortune has happened to you. Most importantly, know that God is a restorer for those who will trust him completely.