Who Knows?

Tear your hearts, not just your clothes, and return to the Lord your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love, and He relents from sending disaster. Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave a blessing behind Him, so you can offer grain and wine to the Lord your God.

Joel 2:13-14

I came across this verse recently, and although he’s speaking directly to the people of Judah, I felt like it was being spoken to me too. No, I haven’t been on the fence of disaster or defeat, but daily I have a choice to make in following Jesus and opening my heart up to Him. The phrase “tear your hearts” is a way of saying “open up your heart to Me, all of it. Don’t hide anything, for I am always gracious & compassionate towards you.” It’s a reminder that He already knows what’s within, but the process of us telling Him what’s within us is what brings freedom and healing.

What stood out to me the most in this verse was the short little phrase, “who knows?”

I love this because it’s so fitting with how we ought to view our relationship with Him. Who knows if He’ll leave a blessing for you? Does it matter? He might bless you, He might not. Honestly, He will… but maybe not in your idealized preference.

There are 3 things that stand out to me with the words “Who knows?”

It speaks to the mystery of God

We believe in an unseen God. Our faith is in things not seen. We can believe that He will bless, that He will heal, but it comes from a deeper rooted faith that has nothing to do with things we can see, but believing more that He is Who He says He is. He may not provide in our ideal timing, but it will be in His Timing which is more timely anyway. God wants us to know Who He is, but if we knew everything about Him and His plans for us, we probably wouldn’t have the faith that we do.

We are to return to Him out of obedience, not just in hopes of receiving from Him.

When we live steadfast towards the heart of God, pursuing likeness to and relationship with Him, we are, overtime, fulfilled simply by His presence. It doesn’t matter what we receive in our hands, but more, what we receive in our hearts from Him.

When we are blessed, our blessings are to be received in praise & thankfulness.

I find it ironic that at the end of the verse, He’s telling us to offer back our blessing to the Lord our God. So even when we are blessed, we are to receive the blessing as if it’s His, not ours. We are to receive it with an attitude of gratefulness towards Him and His graciousness towards us.

There have been times when I’ve felt like God forgets about me. It’s as if He’s blessing others, their cups overflowing while mine is running dry. I have felt like I just can’t catch a break – whether it be exhaustion from motherhood, questions about health that go unanswered, or dreams being put on pause because of the season I’m in. You hear people talk about these dry seasons and say “Your time will come” “He will provide” “Blessings are on the way”. Although that’s true, what’s also true is that He already has provided, He already has blessed, and He already has healed. I think we can believe wholeheartedly for an outcome or a blessing, while also recognizing that we have already received the blessing we need. Through the blood of Jesus, I can live like I’m already blessed, because I am! And when you do see blessings come about in your life, or an outcome that you were praying for, it’s an opportunity to see His goodness and faithfulness towards you, too. It’s an opportunity to simply say “thank you”.

So who knows? I might see an abundance of blessings tomorrow, or I might not. But I can be thankful and confident that now and forever, I’m blessed by simply being His and having a home in eternity with Him.