“The LORD thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty are those who obey his command. The day of the LORD is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?
“Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
Rend your heart and not your garments.
Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.” – Joel 2:11-13
We tend to keep running around the base of the mountain instead of climbing it.
Climbing it requires effort.
It often requires trusting Someone who knows the mountain better than we do.
Going it on our own often means getting lost and finding, inexplicably, our way back to the beginning.
I started a hike here recently and due to a sudden and amazing number of setbacks, found myself at the beginning of it, again.
As I read those verses, “with all of your heart” struck me as I considered that I may not be climbing this mountain with all of my heart and that, especially with this kind of hike, I must determine to give it all I have.
Through prayer (asking and trusting my Guide) and purpose (determination and discipline), I will reach the top.
So will you.
One more thing, this portion, “Rend your heart and not your garments.” got me, too.
Some mountains we think are physical may well be emotional and spiritual.
