The Bible says,
2Ch 7:13 When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people,
2Ch 7:14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
In searching the Bible for the truth about God, we come across statements like these above.
I think I must have heard 2 Chronicles 7:14 one hundred times for every time I have heard the previous verse mentioned.
Some of us may struggle with verses that imply that God brings adversity upon His people.
According to these verses, God is saying that at times HE shuts up the heaven so there is no rain. At time GOD commands locusts to devour the land. At times GOD sends pestilence among His people.
Why?
Because of the sin of God's people. Because of the wicked ways of God's people.
But when God's people say "We don't have wicked ways. We are wonderful. We are excellent." it could be hard for God to get through.
This is why the first step to revival is in fact HUMILITY. Without humility, people lose the capacity to recognize TRUTH.
Without the CAPACITY to recognize truth, people are going to spread lies, perhaps thinking they are doing right.
I'm not surprised when people who think they are wonderful spread lies.
All through the Bible God judged the nation of Israel for their sin, and the righteous remnant was affected by it as well.
Daniel and his friends were carried off into captivity because of the sins of the people of Israel. They were righteous boys, and God raised them up to great positions within the kingdom. But they were still carted off as slaves at one stage.
Other examples could be given. Joshua and Caleb had to wander around in the wilderness for 40 years because of the unbelief of their compatriots.
The 7000 that did not bow the knee to Baal during the time of wicked Ahab suffered drought along with the other people.
If the Land is not Healed …
It is because the conditions of 2 Chronicles 7:14 have not been met.
God's people have not humbled themselves.
They have not sufficiently prayed.
They have not forsaken their wicked ways.
The ball is in our court.