“So rejoice, O sons of Zion, and be glad in the Lord your God; for He has given you the early rain for your vindication. And He has poured down for you the rain, the early and latter rain as before. The threshing floors will be full of grain, and the vats will overflow with the new wine and oil. Then I will make up to you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the creeping locust, the stripping locust and the gnawing locust, My great army which I sent among you. You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied and praise the Name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you; then My people will never be put to shame.”
Joel 2:23-26 NASB
We have all been through some struggles and storms but this one just seems to be one of those storms that seems like it will never end. It was TD Jakes who said, “No storm lasts forever. They come and they go, but you choose to live in it forever if you want. Always talking about it, crying about it. The storm leaves you but you are so caught up talking about it and crying about it that the storm rains over your head perpetually.” Some of you have had some things taken from you in the past but God is saying, “I will restore you.” The word “restore” means to bring back to its original purpose. God knew you in your mother’s womb. He knew the purpose He had for you. I am praying that you will not cave in. You will not give up. You will get out of your past and stop dwelling on it. You will have staying power, fortitude and courageous faith. The word “fortitude” means “strength of mind that enables one to endure adversity with courage” and the word “courage” is defined in Wikipedia as, “Courage, also known as bravery, will, intrepidity, and fortitude, is the ability to confront fear, pain, risk/danger, uncertainty, or intimidation.”
Psalm 138:7-8 (NASB) says, “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand will save me. The Lord will accomplish what concerns me; your loving kindness, O Lord, is everlasting.”