Have you ever been in a desperate situation? A situation that looked so bad, that it seemed as though all hope was lost? These situations come in various ways and at various times in life. They are never fun. However, it seems as though the times that are the worst are when they come seemingly out of nowhere. This was the situation of what was happening in Judah, that southern kingdom of Judah when the prophet Joel wrote the book that bears his name. Joel was telling Judah what the appropriate response to what had happened. In the book, Joel also reminds the people that God is sovereign, and He is working His plan out to accomplish His will. So, what is the appropriate response when difficulties strike?
Joel 1:14 says, “Consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly; Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.” We need to see our desperation for God. COVID-19 seemingly came out of nowhere, it changed our lives, and our world. Yet, all we keep talking about is how can we get back to “normal.” Have we not seen or do we not understand that “normal” is part of the problem? We have tried to remove God from almost every aspect of public life. We are going through something that we can’t see, and are struggling to figure out. Yet, very few are asking, what is God trying to show us? What is God trying to teach us in this season?
Pastors, this must begin with us. We need to lead the way in crying out to God, fasting, and seeking the Lord’s help and strength. We must lead our people to look for Jesus in every aspect of their life, and allow life to draw us closer to Him. I will close with some words of Jesus that have been running through my mind for a few days. Jesus said in John 15, “Without Me, you can do nothing.” Do we believe that? Or are we just giving lip service to it? Let’s cry out to Jesus. Seek Him and know that He will reveal Himself to us.
By His grace and for His glory,
Pastor Justin