The Problem with Locusts

During these cavernous months, it seemed like I was climbing out of a life-time of darkness. When the Lord shined His light of Truth in the shadowy recesses, I didn’t recognize myself! This is what stale grief and keeping parts of your soul in darkness can do. It steals part of who we are. Kind of like the locusts in the Bible. 

“So I will restore to you the years the swarming locust has eaten,

the crawling locust, consuming locust, the chewing locust… .” Joel 2:25.

The Arabs call locusts the “darkeners of the sun.” I found some interesting correlations with these buzzing darkeners:

Biblical Truth	Correlation
They occur in great number and literally obscure the sun (Exodus 10:15, Judges 6:5).	They block Truth (Son).
They make a fearful noise in flight (Joel 2:5).	They distract.
They enter dwellings and devour woodwork (Joel 2:9-10).	Consume destiny and gifts.
Water and sea destroys them. (Exodus 10:19)	Anointing breaks the yoke.

Did you know locusts cannot guide their own flight? They are literally at the mercy of the wind. So I proclaim this day that these locusts that have obscured the Light of Truth in my life are at the mercy of the Wind of the Holy Spirit.

When the locust is blown by His Wind, we are promised new grain (provision), new wine (joy), and new oil (a new anointing), and we will be satisfied (Joel 2:19). I am so grateful that God’s truth and glory brings life where there is death.

For more information on the Biblical meaning of the locust: http://www.biblemeanings.info/Words/Animal/Locust.htm

Cinderella Complex and the StraitJacket

“In my own little corner, in my own little chair I can be whatever I want to be.” (Cinderella, 1965)

Cinderella was always my favorite Disney movie. So when my therapist suggested I imagine a “safe room” for my bruised and battered emotions, this song danced it’s way across my psyche. 

In my “safe room” I had a bed, a nice rug in the center and a lovely breakfast nook in the corner. A fireplace in the center of one wall was a nice touch – after all, memories get cold once in a while. But the two most notable features (to me AND my therapist) was the front and back door. The front door was the kind I saw in movies. You know, the ones where the upper half of the door and the bottom half were split so you can chat with your neighbor while cooling a pie on the window ledge? (cue Leave it to Beaver music here).

The second thought-provoking feature was the back door. It led to a lovely meadow and forest. My therapist’s head tilted to one side, “hmmmmm, interesting.” 

“Because… ?” I asked.

He pursed his lips while looking at my drawing, “I have never had anyone draw a back door before.” 

So does this make me brilliant, fascinating, or ready for a straitjacket? I thought it might be wise to keep that thought to myself so I just said, “Oh, really?” 

“Well,” he explained. “This is supposed to be your safe room. Your front door is split so you can let people in just so far, and since you have a back door, this tells me that even in your safe place, you feel the need for an escape route.” 

I had buried pain so deep and had so many trust issues that even my safe room had an escape route! 

Well, this explained a few things. I wondered if a medium size straitjacket would fit.

In order to climb out of this cavern, I needed to learn to trust my Heavenly Father to light the way. His Word was a constant torch and guide on my journey.

“For in the time of trouble, He shall hide me in His Pavilion. 

In the secret place of His tabernacle, He shall hide me.

He shall set me high upon a rock.” Psalm 27:5