Joel 2:12

“Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:”

One of the greatest attributes of God is that He always gives hope no matter what you may be facing. It doesn’t matter if what you are facing is a result of your own actions, or if what you are facing is a result of life in general; God always wants to give hope. He knows that as long as there is hope, there is a chance for the fallen to return and the righteous to continue no matter what they face.

The verse above is one of those verses where God is giving hope. God gives the forecast for Israel in verse 2 when He says, “A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness…” Truly, the forecast for Israel didn’t look good. It looked as if stormy days were ahead for these people; however, God continues in verse 12 by saying, “Therefore…” This word was the hope that no matter how gloomy the future seemed, and no matter how dark the darkness got, there was a “therefore” to give hope to His people.

Let me ask you, what are the prognosticators forecasting for your life? Do the days ahead look dark or gloomy? Does it seem as if the clouds are setting into life for some time? Let the verse above be the news of hope that you need to understand that God has a “therefore” to give you hope. Several things can be learned from God’s “therefore.”

First, no matter how dark your day is, there is always a “therefore.” When I look through the Scriptures, I always see a “therefore” for God’s people. Job’s life seemed very dark, but his “therefore” was that he would one day see His Redeemer. Joseph’s life was filled with darkness, but he saw the “therefore” by believing that God had a purpose. You may think that you are living in the darkest of days, but let me encourage you that there is a “therefore” for you as well.

Second, you can choose to dwell on the dark day, but in doing so you remove your “therefore.” Israel could have dwelt on the darkness and gloominess, but had they done so they would have removed the “therefore” that they could hold onto for encouragement. Christian, don’t let the darkness pull your attention away from your “therefore.” The darkness wants to take joy from you, but you can look beyond the darkness to your “therefore” and see that there is light beyond the gloomy clouds of darkness.

Third, your “therefore” is to turn to the LORD. The “therefore” in the verse above was simply Israel’s ability to turn to the LORD to ask for help in their day of darkness. When your dark days come, turn to the LORD and you will see a “therefore.” When your day seems gloomy with no hope of joy, turn to the LORD and see your “therefore” that will bring joy. Your answer for the forecast of dark and gloomy days is to turn to the LORD. He is the only One Who gives you the hope of a “therefore” to brighten your day.

Christian, what are you doing when the forecast is a dark day? Do you choose to let the dark day rule your life, or do you turn to the LORD to see your “therefore?” It is your choice what you choose to focus on, but if you turn to the LORD in the time of darkness and gloominess, you can live the abundant and joyful life that only He can give in the dark days.