Often we live lives filled with transition. These transitions can come in ministry, relationships, family, marriage, careers, and so many other areas. God has a plan for us, so when faced with a season of transition we must prepare ourselves for growth. God wants to send an outpouring our way that will blossom us into all He desires in us.
But, if we don’t check the weather (His Word) we will not be prepared for what is to come. It is essential that we give God free reign to do what He wills in our lives. God will send to us people, situations, moves and decisions to get our undivided attention. The beauty comes when we recognize His work and submit to it. Let us look to God’s Word to learn how we do this.
“Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil. 25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army that I sent among you.
And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.” –Joel 2:23-26
It is important to acknowledge that He is the one true savior and redeemer. His love for us transcends difficult time, situations, and events. No matter what we lose during these trying times, our Father in heaven, the true Redeemer, can restore all. God gave a promise to His people that for all of the suffering they endured, He will compensate them. He promised restoration and said all that they lost would be repaid.
I love how the Word describes the rain God gave. Verse 23 highlights the former and latter rain. Each of these two types of rain God is sending has a particular purpose. The “former rain” which also means an early rain or another translation being a teacher or teaching, is the first type of rain. This particular rain came October thru December and was known to prepare the ground to receive the seed. The “latter rain” means a spring rain, which falls in March and April, serving to mature the crops. Another definition of this rain, according to Webster, is ‘eloquence’ which also means persuasive, fluency, potency, effectiveness, and power.
This imagery is such a beautiful depiction of God’s patience, grace, and love for us that He would shower us with His love and continue to rain on us until growth occurs. What I love most is how God used the rain to grow the crops after His people experienced drought in the land. God’s maturation process will bring us all to a place where we lack nothing.
Have you ever experienced something in your life that revealed your level of maturity? Are you in such a season now? How is God using the droughts in your life to draw you closer to Him? Have you passed the season of your life that prepares you for your future? Whatever season you are in, always remember that your pain has a purpose. Your pain is destined to get you to a place of full confidence in God and His maturation.
Heavenly Father, thank you for your everlasting love. Thank you for all you have done for us and your promise of restoration. I pray now for all of our friends in trouble and in hard times. I pray for strength for their journey. I pray that you will have your way in trials and allow each situation we face to mature us and grow us in your word. We love you, Father, and thank you for all that you will do in us.
In Jesus name, Amen.
Thank you for this today. I am in a season of pain and rejection – not from my church, as many pastors’ wives are dealing with – but from my extended family (a former pastor’s family, none the less.) Even trying to think through the words to explain in this comment come up short – but I do want to say thank you for this post and the sweet reassurance that God will (and does) give us everything we need to not only survive, but thrive.