The Lodestar

Followers of Christ may become objects of derision when they live around people who disapprove of their convictions, especially during setbacks in life. However, the Lord is in control and turns scorn to surprise. Prophet Joel, who warned the people during the crisis, affirms this truth.

The plague of locusts that devastated the land of Israel had severe consequences. First, the locusts ate the standing crops, trees, bushes, and plants. It will take years for these food sources to grow and yield again. Second, it was a blow to the food producers’ morale, who suffered huge losses and had no hope that this would not repeat the following year. But the most distressing impact is the shame. The people who worshipped other gods interpreted it as a divine curse upon them for serving the wrong god, Yahweh. They cried: “Spare your people, O LORD, and make not your heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’” (Joel 2:17).

I know believers in Christ; when they faced setbacks in life, those who did not share their faith often interpreted it as a curse for embracing the new life in Christ.

The Lord will relent when his people turn back to him in repentance. The comedowns serve as wake-up calls to the godly, prompting them to reset their relationship with the Lord. Once that is done, the Lord would turn the shame into surprise.

The phrase “And my people shall never again be put to shame” occurs twice in these two verses to reinforce this truth. At times, those faithful to the Lord will have to journey through deep valleys of shame, but the valleys will rise to heights of surprise. The same people who disdained our faith in the Lord will be surprised by what he has done “wondrously” in our lives. If you’ve walked through seasons of shame, mocked for your faith or misunderstood in your setbacks—take heart. The Lord sees, restores, and reverses the reproach. Joel’s words remind us: shame is not the final chapter. Turn to the Lord, reset your walk, and watch him turn scorn into wonder. Let your life be the surprise that silences the scoffers. Keep trusting. Keep walking. The valley will rise.

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