# NEW MERCIES DAILY!
MESSAGE TITLE:
“The chapter looks closed, but Heaven may not be done yet”
SCRIPTURE TEXT:
“I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten…” – Joel 2:25 (NKJV)
DATE: April 15, 2025
BY: EFFIONG ETOK
Carrier of God’s Word
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
You may have lost time-but if repentance is real, restoration is still possible. God doesn’t just rewrite stories-He redeems years.
INTRODUCTION:
Joel 2:25 wasn’t spoken to perfect people-it was spoken to a broken nation. Israel had rebelled, drifted, and lost years to the consequences of their choices. The locusts didn’t just eat crops-they swallowed time, opportunity, and joy. Yet, in the middle of their regret, God didn’t come with condemnation-He came with a promise:
“I will restore to you the years…”
This is not just a verse-it’s a verdict of mercy for everyone who thought it was too late.
For every soul who wasted time, made wrong turns, or feels too far gone-this is your verse. Heaven is not done. God is still restoring.
MESSAGE:
There are people reading this message today who have silently wept over the years they lost-to sin, to disobedience, to ignorance, to bad choices, to people who never deserved them, to places they were never sent to, and to battles they never had to fight.
Child of God,you may look at your life right now and think, “Too much time has passed. I’ve wasted too many chances. I’ve gone too far.” But heaven is whispering back: “The story isn’t over.”
Rahab was a harlot. Her name was dirty in every corner of Jericho. But when judgment came, mercy singled her out-not because of her reputation, but because of her decision to believe. What men called worthless, God used to open a bloodline for the Messiah. Her name was once shameful-now it’s legacy.
King Manasseh was worse. He filled Jerusalem with blood. He built altars for demons. He mocked every law of God. But when affliction humbled him, he cried out from prison-and God heard. The most wicked king in Judah’s history became a trophy of mercy.
The prodigal son had everything-but wasted it all. He chose pleasure over purpose. But when hunger struck and regret broke him, he arose and returned. And what did the father do? He didn’t rehearse his failures. He ran, embraced, and restored.
Paul was a persecutor. He was present when Stephen was stoned. He chased the early church like prey. But on the road to Damascus, Jesus didn’t strike him down-He called him out. The same man who wasted years attacking the gospel became the one who carried it.
And what about Israel? They rebelled. They doubted. They went after idols. They were scattered. But even in exile, God said, “I will gather you again. I will restore what was broken. I will remember My covenant.”
So who told you it’s over?
Who said God can’t still use you?
Who convinced you that the pain disqualified the purpose?
If God could use Rahab, He can use you.
If God could forgive Manasseh, He can redeem you.
If the father ran for the prodigal, He will run to you.
If God still called Paul, He’s still calling you.
Your tears are not wasted. Your repentance is not too late. And in God’s hands, even your lost years still carry purpose-because He uses the lessons, the scars, and the broken pieces to shape the vessel He’s still building.
Mercy doesn’t take you back to your old platform-it pulls purpose from what time tried to bury. God may not return you to the same stage, but He can give you a stronger voice. He may not restore the crowd, but He can restore the “oil”.
TAKEAWAY STATEMENT:
What looks like lost time to man is still a tool in God’s hands. His mercy doesn’t erase your past-it rewrites your future with what’s left.
PRAYER POINTS:
1. Oh Lord, for every year I wasted, for every moment I walked away, for every yes I delayed-please let Your mercy cover me. I don’t deserve it, but I’m crying for it. Please restore me, Lord.
2. Jesus, if You could restore Rahab, forgive Manasseh, and welcome the prodigal-I know You can take my mess and still make it matter. Let my broken story become a vessel of Your glory, in Jesus name.
3. Father, for everyone who thinks it’s too late-for every weeping soul who believes they’ve gone too far-let this be the hour of mercy. Rewrite their ending. Let their name rise again in grace. In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.
