There is a place I’ve been, that maybe you have been in too. The place between the promise God gave you and seeing it come to fruition. The place between knowing what faith means, but struggling to live it out. When you’re caught between the loud voice that says it will never happen and the gentle whisper that says believe in Me. It’s a place that dares you to hope, but begs you to let it go. A place between the former rain, and the latter rain.

Hosea 4:6 says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”

It is in this middle ground where our knowledge of who God is to us is really put to the test. It is the place where our faith is determined and stretched beyond its limits.

Paul, who was no stranger to suffering, says in 2 Corinthians 4:9, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—”

Though you may be anxiously waiting God to move in your life in some way, Paul reminds us we have a treasure within ourselves, the knowledge of God’s glory, the Holy Spirit. It gives us hope that despite how badly we feel, despite how anxious we are and how uncertain, how hard pressed, crushed and perplexed, we have what we need. And this is the knowledge that, if we don’t take hold of it, we will be destroyed in this middle ground, in this waiting season.

Hosea 6:3 says, “Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain to the earth.”

His going forth is established as the morning. Just as night always gives way to the dawn, God’s faithfulness is just as certain. The knowledge of God will bring us to the place of light after darkness, of rain showers upon dry land, of harvest and abundance.

God has more for you yet. It may be a hard season for you, but it is not without purpose. Pursue the knowledge of God above else, “..for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:6

A favorite quote of mine on this subject from Charles Spurgeon makes a good comparison on the former and latter rains: “Notice, again, it is a repeated gift. He shall give the former rain and the latter rain. If you have had grace once the Lord has more for you. Did you have happy times when old Dr. So-and-so was your pastor? Well, the doctor is dead, but God is not. Were you very much delighted when you used to sit in such-and-such a church, in years gone by, and have you moved into the country now? Yes, but God has not moved. He is in the country as well as in the town. You tell me you had such happy times when you were young. Yes, but God is neither younger nor older. Go to him, for he is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. Do you suppose that, because he gave you the former rain, he has emptied the bottles of heaven?” 

“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”
‭‭James‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭