Schedule | - 11:08 am
When Problems Seem Never-Ending
In Joel 1:4, the prophet describes a devastating invasion of locusts:
What the chewing locust left, the swarming locust has eaten; What the swarming locust left, the crawling locust has eaten; And what the crawling locust left, the consuming locust has eaten.
Each wave of locusts destroyed what the previous one had left behind. The result was complete devastation: crops were ruined, livelihoods were affected, and the nation faced a serious crisis.
However, this wasn’t simply a natural disaster. It was a wake-up call. God was using the situation to get the attention of His people. He wanted them to recognize how far they had drifted and to lead them back to a close, personal relationship with Him.
Today, most of us are unlikely to experience a plague of locusts. However, we may face other forms of loss and difficulty. Financial pressures, broken relationships, unexpected illnesses, career setbacks, or challenges that seem to come one after another can leave us feeling drained and discouraged. There are times when it feels as though something is constantly working against us, preventing us from moving forward.
So, what is the answer? God’s message through the prophet Malachi is simple:
Return to Me, and I will return to you,’ Says the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 3:7)
Returning to God is more than a one-time prayer. It involves putting Him first in every area of our lives. This means making Him our priority in our time and relationships, seeking Him before making decisions, trusting Him with our finances, spending time in prayer and in His Word, and living in obedience to His will.
Many people focus only on the financial aspect of Malachi 3:10 regarding tithes and offerings. While returning our tithe (the first 10% of all our income) is important, the deeper principle is honoring God with our first and our best. God is looking for hearts fully surrendered to Him, and when we place Him at the center of our lives, we will consequently experience His blessing and protection.
As God challenged His people to return to Him, He also promised:
‘And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground… (Malachi 3:11)
God promises that when we honor Him and put Him first, He will step in on our behalf. He will protect the fruit of our labor and preserve what He has blessed us with.
This does not mean that life will be free from challenges, but it does mean we can live with confidence, knowing that God is watching over us and working for our good.
If there are areas where you have drifted away from God, we invite you to join us at The Universal Church near you this month. Choose to draw closer to God, honor Him with your first and your best, and watch Him demonstrate His faithfulness in your life.
Everyone is welcome, regardless of religious beliefs or background. Come as you are. For more information, please call 1-888-332-4141 or text 1-888-312-4141.
If you live in a city without one of our locations or cannot commute due to health reasons, we invite you to join our Virtual Church via Zoom and phone conference.
