The Table of Restoration

🦃 November Theme: The Table of Thanksgiving

📖 Scripture

Joel 2:25–26 (NIV)
“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten… You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed.”

📚 Background

Joel’s prophecy speaks to a people devastated by a locust plague—a symbol of loss, destruction, and despair. Yet in the midst of judgment, God offers a promise of restoration. Not just of crops and provision, but of dignity, joy, and relationship. These verses are a declaration that God not only heals what’s broken—He redeems what’s been lost.

💬 Devotional

I once walked through a season where everything felt stripped away—dreams delayed, relationships strained, and purpose clouded. I remember journaling the words, “I feel like the locusts have eaten my years.” It was raw and honest. But months later, I stumbled upon Joel 2:25–26, and it felt like God whispered, “I see what was lost—and I’m not done.”

Restoration isn’t just about getting back what was taken. It’s about receiving something deeper, richer, and more rooted in God’s goodness. At the Table of Restoration, God doesn’t serve leftovers—He prepares a feast. He fills the empty places, heals the wounded spaces, and rewrites the story with grace.

This November, as we give thanks, let’s also remember the God who restores. The years that felt wasted, the seasons that felt barren—He sees them all. And He promises to bring beauty from brokenness.

🪞 Reflection Questions

What “years the locusts have eaten” do you still grieve or question?
How have you seen God begin to restore something in your life?
What does restoration look like for you—emotionally, spiritually, relationally?

🛠️ Application: Living It Out

Name your losses. Write down the areas where you’ve felt robbed or broken. Invite God into those memories.
Celebrate small restorations. Notice and give thanks for even the smallest signs of healing or renewal.
Speak restoration. Encourage someone today with the truth that God restores—share Joel 2:25–26 with them.

📌 Key Takeaways