Have you ever felt as though one problem arrives before youâve even had a chance to recover from the last one? At times, life can seem like an endless cycle of setbacks, disappointments and challenges. This was exactly the situation faced by the people of Israel in the book of Joel.
In Joel 1:4, the prophet describes a devastating invasion of locusts: âWhat the chewing locust left, the swarming locust has eaten; what the swarming locust left, the crawling locust has eaten; and what the crawling locust left, the consuming locust has eaten.â
Each wave of locusts destroyed what the previous one had left behind. The result was complete devastation. Crops were ruined, livelihoods were affected, and the nation faced a serious crisis.
This wasnât simply a natural disaster. It was a wake-up call. God was using the situation to get the attention of His people. He wanted them to recognise how far they had drifted and to lead them back to a close, personal relationship with Him.
Today, most of us are unlikely to experience a plague of locusts. However, we may experience other forms of loss and difficulty. Financial pressures, broken relationships, unexpected illness, career setbacks, or challenges that seem to come one after another, can leave us feeling drained and discouraged. There are times when it feels as though something is constantly working against us, preventing us from moving forward.
So, what is the answer?
Godâs message through the prophet Malachi is simple: âReturn to Me, and I will return to you,â says the Lord Almighty. (Malachi 3:7)
Returning to God is more than a one-off prayer or giving financial offering. It involves putting Him first in every area of our lives. It means making Him our priority with our time, our relationships, seeking Him before making decisions, trusting Him with our finances, spending time in prayer, His Word and living in obedience to His will.
Many people focus only on the financial aspect of what is written in Malachi 3:10 regarding tithes and offerings. While returning our tithe (the first 10% of all our income) is important, the deeper principle is honouring God with our first and our best. God is looking for hearts that are fully surrendered to Him and when we place Him at the centre of our lives, we consequently experience His blessing and protection.
As God challenged His people to return to Him, He also promised: âAnd I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground.â (Malachi 3:11)
God promises that when we honour Him and put Him first, He will step in on our behalf. He will protect the fruit of our labour and preserve what He has blessed us with.
That does not mean life will be free from challenges, but it does mean we can live with confidence, knowing that God is watching over us and working for our good.
If there are areas where you have drifted away from God, we invite you to join us at a Universal Church near you this month and choose to draw closer to God, honour Him with your first and your best, and watch Him demonstrate His faithfulness in your life.
Event: The Month to Combat the Devourer
Period: Throughout the month of June
Location: Your local Universal Church
Headquarters
25 Brazil Street, Castries, St. Lucia
Helpline: +1 (758) 730-4040
