Joel 2:19b-24

Surely he has done great things.

Be not afraid, O land;

be glad and rejoice.

Surely the LORD has done great things.

Be not afraid, O wild animals,

for the open pastures are becoming green.

The trees are bearing their fruit;

the fig tree and the vine yield their riches.

Be glad, O people of Zion,

rejoice in the LORD your God,

for he has given you

the autumn rains in righteousness.

He sends you abundant showers,

both autumn and spring rains, as before.

The threshing floors will be filled with grain;

the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.

(Joel 2:19b-24)

Thank you, Mom and Dad—for next year’s Christmas presents. Is that premature? Is that counting the eggs before they hatch? Perhaps, then, Joel was a little too rash. According to a commentary, the above prayer of praise is in the “prophetic perfect”—it is past tense in the future. In other words, it is thanking God for what he has not yet done, but what he will do, but as if he had already done it.

God has said he will do it. It is as good as done.

The people look around and still see the havoc wrought by the locusts. The present still looks like it is in shambles, the green is gone, the purple blush of the grapes is only a dream. But praise God—have faith! It is done. It will happen! Your situation has changed—even if it doesn’t appear like it.

The people look around to the barren fields, and then lift thier eyes to heaven. There, their eyes see. Fixing thier eyes on the author of thier faith, the brown fields suddenly glisten with gold and burgeon with the green of promise. God is great. God is good. God is faithful. They rejoice, and thier tears of gratitude foreshadow the showers of rain that will come. The glory of God eclipses present catastrophes. Faith. Lord, help me see, in every day. Thank you.