Day 13: Return to God's Gracious Heart
"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." – Joel 2:13
Aristotle outlined three appeals that writers use to persuade their audiences: logos, ethos, and pathos. Consider how parents might strive to motivate their children to improve their behavior or to walk in obedience by implementing these three persuasive strategies:
Logos: “If you do this work now, you’ll get to have more free time later.”
Ethos: “We always have your best interest at heart, and this will keep you happy and safe.”
Pathos: “Seeing you do the right thing makes me so happy and proud.”
Can you imagine asking wandering children to obey you or return "home" simply because you are gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in love? Would this appeal lead to a change of heart and behavior in rebellious and wandering children?
Yet, this is exactly how Joel appeals to the Israelites. In this verse, he doesn’t explain the important reasoning of why they should return to the Lord, nor does he emphasize his credibility as a prophet, nor does he appeal to a plethora of their emotions. Joel simply emphasizes the holy character of God to display His kindness that it would lead to repentance.
God longs for us to turn back to Him. God’s love and mercy is so high, wide, and deep for his people that He does not delight in punishing people. Instead, He longs for us to turn back to Him. Even when we stray, God is patient, giving us abundant and ample time to repent.
God is gracious and compassionate. God’s grace means that He gives us good things that we do not deserve. His compassion means that He deeply cares about us, like a loving parent cares for their child. No matter how far we have wandered, God is ready to welcome us back with open arms, not due to anything of our own that we merit, yet simply due to the depths of his compassion and grace.
God’s character is unchanging. The words Joel penned remain the same for us today. He is always ready to forgive, always compassionate, and always abounding in love. As we reflect on Joel 2:13, let’s praise God for His endless mercy and patience.
Just as the people of Israel were called to return to God, we, too, can pray for our nation to turn back to God. Let’s ask Him to work in our hearts and in our nation, bringing about a great revival that honors His name. God is not just waiting for us to make the first move; He is actively inviting us to return to Him, so He can pour out His blessings on us once more.
Revival starts with individual hearts that are broken before God, seeking His mercy and guidance. When we genuinely and consistently repent and seek God’s face wholeheartedly and gather many others to do the same, we open the door for Him to bring healing and restoration to our land.
Father, thank You for being gracious, compassionate, and slow to anger. There is none like You! May Your kindness bring millions to repentance across the nation! Awaken the American people to return to You! In the name of Your Son, Jesus, Amen.
Grace Ann Arvey
Director of CU America