“I will restore . . .”

Tucked away in the book of Joel in the Bible is God’s promise “I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten” (2:25). At first glance, this doesn’t make sense—can years be eaten by locusts? But in its spiritual significance, these words speak of the restoration of whatever good in our lives seems to have been lost—missed opportunities, thwarted hopes, derailed plans.

As a result of lockdowns during the global pandemic, so much seems to have been eaten away—time with loved ones, career opportunities, income, social contacts, education, and so on.

But those words from the book of Joel assure us of God’s ability to restore that which seems to be gone forever. There can be no lost years in God—who is Spirit and Life, and who created all spiritually—and no lost opportunities for good of any kind. Understanding that we live in divine Spirit means that we are never held back or confined by physical limitations. As God’s beloved children, we have all we need every moment, and we can demonstrate this spiritual fact in our lives.