Zechariah 8:18-19

Zechariah 8:18-19 (ESV): “18 And the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying, 19 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: The fast of the fourth month and the fast of the fifth and the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth shall be to the house of Judah seasons of joy and gladness and cheerful feasts. Therefore love truth and peace.”

The Lord is the Redeemer of all. There is nothing in your life beyond His power to redeem—not your soul, not your suffering, not even your sacrifices. He wastes nothing. He uses everything for our good and for His glory.

Zechariah was drawn back to the seventy years of captivity in Babylon. The people were confronted with the four fasts they had instituted to remember the siege, destruction, and fall of Jerusalem. But the Lord did not intend for His people to live forever in mourning. He declared that those fasts would be turned into feasts and their sorrow into joy. Why? Because He would restore the holy city and make it a place of celebration when Jesus comes again. This is the hope of God’s people. Come, Lord Jesus, come!

Did you know that God is able to turn your story around?  You may be sitting in sorrow today, weighed down by decisions that have led you to a somber place. But you do not have to remain there. When you turn back to the Lord you can expect Him to turn days of despair into days of praise. He can redeem any moment of your life, but you must trust Him with it. Lay it down. Stop rehearsing the regret. Stop living in yesterday’s ruins. God is not finished with you. Amen?

Father, we thank You that no failure is final and no sorrow is wasted in Your hands. Redeem the time, turn our hearts from sorrow to joy, and lead us back to Yourself. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.