Isn't it glorious how the Lord knows our hearts better than we do? The first chapter of Joel paints pictures of desolation. Of locusts and lions. These locusts, they steal away our joy. These lions, they bite our backs. I don't know about you, but I've experienced such pain. Surely not in as violent a manner as many others have, but my mind has been invaded by armies before, and my heart has been shaken. People and circumstances hurt.
This morning I taught 4 and 5-year-olds. If you know anything about this age group, you'll know that tattling runs rampant among their ranks. So, I had a pep talk with my class this morning. I informed them that first and foremost they were responsible for their own behavior, not the behavior of someone else. I also told them that I have eyes. I can see when someone is misbehaving, and I will deal with it as I see fit. Everyone is different (there is a child who comes from time to time that has special needs) so I will correct each child according to what is appropriate for them personally.
"Point to yourself and say 'me'. (Me!) Who are you responsible for? (ME!!) Good, you are responsible for you! I will take care of everything else."
This afternoon God spoke those very same words right back to me:
"Becca, you worry about your own behavior, no one else. They are my children, I will deal with them as I see fit. Everyone is different, but ultimately everyone answers to me. Not you. You will not tattle to me. I have eyes, don't I? Trust me."
Yes God.
Along those lines, a call to repentance is made in Joel 2:13 -
"Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity."
God doesn't want a show - he wants our humility. He wants us to be honest with him and with ourselves. To answer to Christ inwardly instead of bragging (and tattling) outwardly. Following this, in verse 25, God says,
"I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten..."
How many years do we lose to self-pity and discord and bitterness and disobedience? How many years? How long do we hate the locusts? How long do we despise the lions? How much time do we waste?
Stop.
God wants to mend you. God wants to make you whole. God wants to give you back the time you lost in bitterness and make you new. Deal with your own heart, and leave God to deal with others. In his own time. Because you can trust him.
