Joel 2:13 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.
Today we venture into the book of Joel to see what God has to teach us about repentance. The prophet Joel urged the people of Judah to turn back to God with true sorrow rather than in empty outward rituals. He pointed out God’s merciful and forgiving nature in the verse. God wants true change from us, honest sorrow over our sins, and He grants us His grace and mercy when we genuinely embrace repentance.
In ancient times, people would rend their garments or tear them to express their sadness or grief. This was a public act and demonstrated to others that they were upset. But Joel showed us that God said do not put on a show by tearing our clothes. Instead, He desires that we rend our hearts instead. This means we truly change our inner self and we break our pride and end sinful behaviors that are holding us away from Him. We are to turn away from doing wrong and turn back to a close relationship with Him.
God is full of grace and mercy. He is kind and He wants to forgive those who come back to Him. He does not rush to punish people. He gives them time to change. The Holy Spirit convicts us of the wrongs in our life and then the ball is in our court. Will we respond by rending our hearts and returning to Him? Or will we pretend things are going well and continue in sinful ways?
God does not want fake sorrow from us. He rejects the empty, outward ritualism of those who are trying to show off or pretend they are something they are not. He asks for a broken, humble, and sincere heart to come before Him. He is patient. He will wait for us.
And He is also eager to hold back calamity and disaster from our lives when we do return to Him. Joel ends the verse telling us of this truth. God will hold back the judgement and wrath that we deserve. He reconciles us to Himself instead.
Today take a few moments to let your inner self feel true grief over the sins in your life. Recognize the conviction the Spirit is bringing to you and choose to change. Turn back to God with everything you have, in true surrender and humility. And trust that God is kind, full of mercy, and slow to anger. Know that He loves you and forgives you when you repent with genuine sorrow.
Prayer: Lord, I don’t want my repentance to be a performance. I want to genuinely turn to You from my sins and ask for Your forgiveness and mercy. Amen
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