Hope Beyond the Locusts

One of the greatest Major League hitters set the record for strikeouts with 1,330. The same player set a record for five consecutive strikeouts in a World Series game. The holder of both records was the great “Sultan of Swat,” Babe Ruth. Babe famously said, “Every strikeout brings me closer to the next home run. So never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.”

And so it is in life. There are moments when we feel like we’ve completely blown it. Ever been there? I have. We strike out over and over again. We choose to sin, make poor decisions, and find ourselves in situations where the consequences of our actions leave us broken and ashamed, feeling worthless or hopeless. Then we wonder if we can ever recover from the damage we’ve caused—if God can ever forgive us or if there’s any chance of being restored and used by Him again.

However, the beautiful truth of the gospel is this: no matter how far we’ve fallen or how badly we’ve failed, God is still the God of restoration. Joel 2:25 is a powerful reminder. God promises:

“I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts.”

Did you catch that? Don’t miss it! The people of Israel had experienced devastating loss because of their rebellion and sin. However, when they repented and turned back to God, He promised to restore all that had been destroyed.

In the same way, when we come to Jesus in repentance, we are not met with condemnation (Romans 8:1) but with mercy. Repentance is not just “feeling bad” or remorseful for what we’ve done; it’s doing an about-face. It’s turning away from our sin and turning back to God. It’s seeing our sin the way God sees it. And the moment we do, God doesn’t just forgive us—He restores us. Just like the Israelites, who lost everything to the locusts, God promises to rebuild the areas of our lives that have been wrecked or shattered by sin and disobedience.

Listen closely: restoration may not always look like a quick or immediate fix. It usually isn’t. It will take time for trust to be rebuilt, for wounds to heal, or for relationships to be mended. However, God, in His mercy and grace, will bring healing to every broken area of your life. He will redeem your mistakes, using the worst failures of your life as part of His greater plan (Romans 8:28). He is writing your story. He will take your “mess” and turn it into your greatest “message.”

If you feel like you’ve blown it—if you feel there is no hope—if your life has been impacted by your failures, disobedience, and poor choices, take heart! God is in the business of turning brokenness into beauty. He offers forgiveness, hope, and healing when you come to Him with a humble, broken, and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17).

Listen, there is nothing you’ve done or ever will do that can put you beyond the reach of the amazing love and grace God has for you. Confess your failures. Repent by turning away from your sin and walking back to God. Then watch!

Watch as God “gives you back what the swarming locusts have eaten.”