I have heard people—farmers and non-farmers alike complain about the scarcity of rain. Yet when rains come, they also complain that it is raining heavily everyday. As a French General, Napoleon Bonaparte put it, “The French complain of everything, and always.” Spiritually, it is not only the French, but all human beings complain. As we journey through life, we will get beaten up—we get hurt and bruised. Scarred memories mark our journey like markers on a highway. There are times of joy and bliss that we savor, but sometimes it seems that they get lost in our journey. People wonder what tomorrow will bring; better life? A more prosperous job? Or a happy marriage? It is in God that we can find hope for our future. If we put our hope in God, there will be no disappointments in our lives. James 5:7-8 teaches us to be patient, like a farmer waiting for the land to yield its valuable crops or patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains, until the Lord comes. We should remember that to everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. Waiting is a trial of nerve and discipline. Isaiah 40:31 says: “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Waiting is also a season in our lives and we have no option but to go through it. Just like the seasons; winter is time for hibernation and rest, spring is time for planting and new growth. So is our life, both physical and spiritual, planned? The conscientious fruit tree farmer plants in spring, maintains the elements for growth in summer, harvests at the start of autumn, and allows the trees to rest in winter. Knowing the season allows the farmer to work in accordance to the tree’s activity. The farmer coordinates his activities by seasons because he knows it will produce the most fruit. Our faith has seasons. Do you know the season of your faith? That season you are in? Theologically, that season is the autumn rain according to Joel, chapter 2. A lso look at verse 28: “It shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and daughters shall prophesy and your old men shall dream dreams. Your young men shall see visions. Also upon the servants and handmaids in those days will I pour out My Spirit.” A great harvest is coming before the day of the Lord, and verse 31 says it’ll be just in the last day. The world needs the autumn rain of the Holy Spirit. We need it here in Rwanda In Acts 17:6, when the disciples received the rain, which was Pentecost, they turned the world upside down. The world needs turning upside down again. God loves all Rev. Dan Gatera is a senior pastor, Jesus Messiah Assembly-Church, East Africa
