7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9 Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
Okay, so in the OT every reference to "early" and "late" rains occur in the context affirming the faithfulness of the Lord. (this from Douglas Moo's commentary on James) some scriptures to illustrate include:
Deuteronomy 11:13-14
13 So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul— 14 then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil.
and. . .
and. . .
Hosea 6:3
3 Let us acknowledge the LORD;
let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises,
he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,
like the spring rains that water the earth.”
let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises,
he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,
like the spring rains that water the earth.”
We must accept what Beth calls the "Law of the Harvest", that spiritual life is most often a cyclical process. The "rains" are the times when it seems like God is going out of his way to pour His Spirit out on you. I identify these times as when every sermon seems to tie in with every song on the radio and every scripture I read. Point in case I have been worshiping lately to this song and lo and behold I never realized it is based on the above scripture until I read it myself in study.
It's almost like I "see" visually the hand of God working in my life growing me and blessing me. These are the most exciting times in my spiritual walk, filled with wonder, assurance, and profound Joy in my faith. I was even thinking at the beginning of the year that I was finally getting my spiritual life in order again. I was focused in on a powerful study of James, I was memorizing scripture, taking a wee bit more time to pray (always my biggest battle), digesting new ways of looking at parts of my faith, and I really felt like it was a momentum I could keep up and should be able to carry on for. . .what? I guess I was hoping the rest of my life? I think the reality of it is I am experiencing His rains. It has nothing to do with my effort but everything to do with His love lavished on me. I look back at other times I have felt like this and to be honest, they didn't last and I went through another period of frustration and apparent stagnancy in my walk. So what does that mean? It is time to accept the beauty of the process.
There comes a time when the Word has to be tested. The time of learning has to PRODUCE FRUIT. It may even come down to our willingness to believe in something we cannot see. Even when it appears nothing is being done, no prayer is being answered, no light is at the end of the tunnel. These verses may be taken slightly out of context but the meaning is the same. . .
Hosea Chapter 3
17 Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Some people are "between the rains" right now. I will be there again some day. I hope that when I am my faith is not shaken but rather I remember that my season of rain will come again. I need only be faithful, patient, and true. Assuredly no small task but isn't anything achievable for a time? How you might ask can we help stay the course through the dry seasons? Beth gave me several thoughts on that; one stand out to me being to avoid grumbling at our brothers and sisters in Christ. It's hard when you are the odd-man out and everyone else seems to be drenched with the Spirit. Of course we want to lash out, but James admonishes against it. Hold on, friend! Also helpful is the fresh resolve that others' testimony can bring. Most importantly remember that He never leaves us nor forsakes us. So to sum up, my faith/healing/prayer problem is not and may never be solved. I think of my brother going on his third year of health battles. Some answers have been found but symptoms remain and change in nature and power. It's been a confusing and frustrating road for him. I have prayed for his healing many times. I continue to pray for healing but now I see it from a different perspective. God seems to have answered not now, so my prayers hold as well that Zack would be patient, faithful, and remain firm in his foundation that God's timing is not ours but it is perfect and zack's "rains" will come again. As surely as the sun will rise. Whether the healing/progress is physical or spiritual HE WILL COME to us. God is capable of healing but He also grows us by letting us walk out our faith. It is this balance that comforts me when as I wrestle with His Word. and now my brain is fried. nap time.
There comes a time when the Word has to be tested. The time of learning has to PRODUCE FRUIT. It may even come down to our willingness to believe in something we cannot see. Even when it appears nothing is being done, no prayer is being answered, no light is at the end of the tunnel. These verses may be taken slightly out of context but the meaning is the same. . .
Hosea Chapter 3
17 Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Some people are "between the rains" right now. I will be there again some day. I hope that when I am my faith is not shaken but rather I remember that my season of rain will come again. I need only be faithful, patient, and true. Assuredly no small task but isn't anything achievable for a time? How you might ask can we help stay the course through the dry seasons? Beth gave me several thoughts on that; one stand out to me being to avoid grumbling at our brothers and sisters in Christ. It's hard when you are the odd-man out and everyone else seems to be drenched with the Spirit. Of course we want to lash out, but James admonishes against it. Hold on, friend! Also helpful is the fresh resolve that others' testimony can bring. Most importantly remember that He never leaves us nor forsakes us. So to sum up, my faith/healing/prayer problem is not and may never be solved. I think of my brother going on his third year of health battles. Some answers have been found but symptoms remain and change in nature and power. It's been a confusing and frustrating road for him. I have prayed for his healing many times. I continue to pray for healing but now I see it from a different perspective. God seems to have answered not now, so my prayers hold as well that Zack would be patient, faithful, and remain firm in his foundation that God's timing is not ours but it is perfect and zack's "rains" will come again. As surely as the sun will rise. Whether the healing/progress is physical or spiritual HE WILL COME to us. God is capable of healing but He also grows us by letting us walk out our faith. It is this balance that comforts me when as I wrestle with His Word. and now my brain is fried. nap time.
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