Daily Devotional – Friday, August 28, 2026
So rend your heart, and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and He relents from doing harm.
Joel 2:13 (NKJV)
Joel prophesied during a painful time in Judah. A terrible plague of locusts had come through the land and destroyed the crops. Families had very little to eat. Joel called the people to understand the significance of what was taking place and warned of the approaching day of the LORD owing to the people’s waywardness. The people’s situation was dire, yet Joel did not leave them without hope. He pointed them back to the LORD and called them to return to Him.
When Regret Isn’t Real Repentance
The people knew how to express grief outwardly. Tearing one’s clothes was a recognised sign of deep sorrow, and there was nothing wrong with mourning openly. Joel, however, wanted them to go beyond what they could see. A torn garment could show everyone that a person was grieving while the heart remained unchanged. God wanted more than an outward sign. He wanted His people to return to Him sincerely. Their problem could not be solved by looking sorry. They needed to turn their hearts back toward the God they had neglected.
We are familiar with such a scenario. There is a difference between regretting what happened and wanting to change what caused it. A person can apologise because they were caught, because someone is upset, or because the consequences are now difficult to bear. The apology may even be sincere in that moment. Yet when the pressure passes, the same words, attitude, or behaviour can return. Genuine repentance goes further. It allows us to admit that something is wrong and then change direction. It is not simply feeling guilty about our actions. It is deciding that we cannot continue as we have been.
When Looking Sorry Is Not Enough
Joel also gives us a reason not to run from God when we have failed. The God he called the people to return to is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and full of kindness. That matters because shame often tells us to hide, while pride tells us to defend ourselves. Neither leads us back to God. His mercy does. We can tell Him the truth by acknowledging the seriousness of our actions. We can admit where we have gone wrong because the One calling us back is not eager to crush us. He is giving us a way home.
When God shows you something in your life that needs to change, do not stop at feeling sorry. If you need to apologise, do it. If you need to make something right, take that step. Let go of any habit or attitude you have defended for too long. You do not need to put on a religious performance for God. He already knows what is in your heart. What He asks is that you turn toward Him honestly. His invitation is still the same: come back. Not with big words or a big show, but with a heart willing to be changed.
Prayer
Merciful God, help me to be honest about the things I need to change in my life. Thank You for Your mercy, Your patience, and Your loving-kindness.
