When the Game Stops
Hear this, you elders; listen, all who live in the land. Has anything like this ever happened in your days or in the days of your ancestors? Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. – Joel 1:1-2 NIV
Read: Joel 1:1-12
In the book of Joel, God sends a swarm of locusts that devastates the land. Crops are gone, joy is depleted, and normal life grinds to a halt. But beneath the devastation is a divine invitation: “Wake up!” (Joel 1:5) The disruption wasn’t punishment for the sake of punishment. It was a call to return, to reflect, to remember what really matters.
A few years ago, my son broke his ankle playing basketball as a freshman; and as unbelievable as it sounds, he ended up breaking the other ankle a few months ago. Little did we know that God would use these seasons to plant something deeper in his life. He began reading the Bible more, praying more, and asking big questions about purpose and identity.
I watched as God used the silence and forced stillness to shape his heart. He began to see that while basketball is a gift, it isn’t everything. God was showing him that who he is matters more than what he does. He became more grounded, more grateful, and more aligned with what’s truly eternal.
Disruptions in life, whether it be locusts, injuries, job loss, or broken plans, can feel cruel. But Joel reminds us that sometimes God uses devastation as preparation. He may strip away the noise to help us hear His voice more clearly.
Response: Have you experienced a disruption that caused you to slow down or shift focus? What did God show you during that season? Is there an area in your life right now where God may be calling you to “wake up”?
Prayer: Father, thank You for being present even in the disruptions. Thank You for the ways You use brokenness to make space for healing and growth. Help me to see what You’re doing in the silence, to hear Your voice, and to cling to what truly matters. Amen.
Read: Joel 1:1-12
In the book of Joel, God sends a swarm of locusts that devastates the land. Crops are gone, joy is depleted, and normal life grinds to a halt. But beneath the devastation is a divine invitation: “Wake up!” (Joel 1:5) The disruption wasn’t punishment for the sake of punishment. It was a call to return, to reflect, to remember what really matters.
A few years ago, my son broke his ankle playing basketball as a freshman; and as unbelievable as it sounds, he ended up breaking the other ankle a few months ago. Little did we know that God would use these seasons to plant something deeper in his life. He began reading the Bible more, praying more, and asking big questions about purpose and identity.
I watched as God used the silence and forced stillness to shape his heart. He began to see that while basketball is a gift, it isn’t everything. God was showing him that who he is matters more than what he does. He became more grounded, more grateful, and more aligned with what’s truly eternal.
Disruptions in life, whether it be locusts, injuries, job loss, or broken plans, can feel cruel. But Joel reminds us that sometimes God uses devastation as preparation. He may strip away the noise to help us hear His voice more clearly.
Response: Have you experienced a disruption that caused you to slow down or shift focus? What did God show you during that season? Is there an area in your life right now where God may be calling you to “wake up”?
Prayer: Father, thank You for being present even in the disruptions. Thank You for the ways You use brokenness to make space for healing and growth. Help me to see what You’re doing in the silence, to hear Your voice, and to cling to what truly matters. Amen.
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