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Within the judgment of Amos, there is hope to be found. There is always hope with God because He is full of both grace and truth.
“The days are coming,” says the LORD, “when grain will grow faster than it can be harvested, and grapes will grow faster than the wine can be made. The mountains will drip with sweet wine, and the hills will flow with it.
Amos 9:13 GNB
I have a friend who frequently remarks, “Find where the Holy Spirit is working and join him there.” The reason for this is obvious. When the Lord decides to bless, the growth will happen faster than you can process. We are surprised even though we shouldn’t be. How quickly we forget God’s promises…
Even creation itself follows this consistent behavior. I have several shrubs that I have tried to get rid of over the years. They were half dead and had just become an eyesore in my landscaping. So, during the Fall I decided I would put them out of their misery. I cut them back to the ground and even dug away some of the dirt below the surface in order to cut them deeper.
Now, these shrubs sit on the south side of my house. I really only notice what’s going on over there when I mow the lawn because we spend most of our family time in the back yard. In late spring, when I went out for my first mowing, I was shocked to find these shrubs had grown larger and fuller than I had ever seen! They were beautiful and the growth was unbelievable. Who would have thought that cutting them back to nothing would end up bringing renewed life and restoration to these struggling plants?
This is a pattern of our God. He is not afraid to cut away the dead, even if that means going down to the bare soil. In the end, He knows that restoration and growth will come. For those who trust in Him, He promises it.
Where do you need to be reminded of this truth?