Grace in Suffering

I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten away, 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” (Joel 2:25-27). This passage out of the book of Joel, describes the judgment God brought upon his people because of their sin. Even though this chapter is mainly about God’s judgment, I think it gives an awesome insight into the love and grace of God. These people suffered the plague of the locusts because of their great sin before Him. The above verse even says the locusts were “my great army, that I sent among you.” In other words, God sent them. But here’s the incredible part. The Lord doesn’t owe these people anything for the consequences they suffered for their sin. They turned their back on Him time and time again. Every miserable thing they went through was just what they deserved for their waywardness. And yet, God said if they would repent of their sins, and turn back to Him, God would hold the judgment. And He would not only put an end to the devastation, but God would even restore the lost years, repaying them. What grace! 

Remember, my friends, God said, “I will repay you!”  Shocking, isn’t it? This means he would pay them back the price they paid for their sin which seems absolutely ludicrous! The fact is the people paid a dear price: ”Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army (locusts) comes, such as never was in ancient times nor ever will be in ages to come. Before them fire devours, behind them a flame blazes. Before them the land is like the garden of Eden, behind them, a desert wasteland—nothing escapes them” (Joel 2:2-3). That’s quite a severe description, don’t you think?  However, God also said he would repay them. If they returned to Him, he would “restore the years the locusts have eaten away.” “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;and rend your hearts and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster” (Joel 2:12-13). Grace, grace, bountiful grace! 

So how will the Lord pay them back? I believe one way the Lord restores us from the suffering caused by our sin or the sins of others is by giving us an opportunity to glean lessons from our suffering, in order to help other people.  And nothing is more fulfilling than to be a blessing to someone else. When you engage in war against the enemy, physically or spiritually, you may risk life and limb, and give up a portion of your life. But, when you gain victory over your enemy, the rewards can be bountiful. As an agent of blessing to others, we come to realize that our past suffering is invaluable. Our compassion, our mercy and our wisdom multiply. The Lord compensates us for the misery that our own sin or the sin of others brings upon us. He will restore the years the locusts have eaten away.  Our pain and suffering have the ability to transform us in a way that nothing else can.

Let’s take a look at Peter’s story.  Peter had similar grace experiences with Jesus when he was first called to follow Christ and again after he denied him. “Those standing there went up to Peter and said, ‘Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”⁷⁴ Then Peter began to call down curses, and he swore to them, ‘I don’t know the man (Jesus)!’ Immediately a rooster crowed. ⁷⁵ Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: ‘Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.’ And he went outside and wept bitterly.” (Matt 26:73-75) Three times just before the crucifixion Peter had denied being associated with, or even knowing Jesus. And later, Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” to which Peter earnestly replied “Yes Lord, You know I do!” Peter was fully forgiven and fully accepted by Christ in spite of his weakness.  Like so many of us, Peter was not aware of his weakness, until circumstances revealed it. But Jesus wasn’t fooled. He knew all along what was in Peter, and wasn’t surprised or taken aback when it was revealed. It is, as though Jesus is saying, “You’re still included Peter. You’re still one of my boys.” Whatever favor and love Jesus had for Peter before he denied him, He still had afterwards.“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” (John 21:15) After Peter was forgiven, he realized the depth of Jesus’ love and wanted to serve Him more than ever. “He who was forgiven much, now loves much.” (Luke 7:47) In other words Peter’s weakness didn’t change God‘s plan. I think the main message Jesus wanted to convey to Peter is “Nothing has changed. I still accept and approve of you and love you. I’m still going to work miracles through you. Your weakness hasn’t changed my plan for you. I always knew it was there and I chose you anyway.”Then Jesus goes on to reinstate Peter and commission him as repayment. In John 21:17,19, “Jesus asked Peter the third time, “Do you love me?” Peter said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep” —-And afterwards, Jesus said to Peter, “Follow me!” —- My friends, I believe that’s a commissioning! Reinstated, Restored and Repaid!  And again, I say– Grace, Grace, bountiful Grace! I don’t know about you, but this is incredibly comforting to this repentant sinner!