I love the smell of rain especially after a dry spell. It gives me such delight, my inner child leaps up and down and once in a while, I stand in the rain to feel the first rain drops against my face and bare arms.

Of course my joy cannot compare to that of the farmer whose next crop depends entirely on the adequacy of both the former and latter rains. Or the mama mboga who will soon have an abundant supply to sell, or the mkokoteni guy who will help you cross the trenches when they flood. However, what is a joy to you can easily be devasting to someone else – I have watched my mom stand at the window and look out over her shamba as she anticipates her next harvest. I have also seen the devastation when too much rain destroys tender crops or when insufficient rain affects the eventual harvest. So your new joyful season could be one of untold pain for another.

Daniel said here that it is God who changes times and seasons. Can you think on that for a minute?

The times and seasons of your life are not determined, governed or set by anyone – not even you. My friend – this to me is both fascinating and comforting: Fascinating because it means that I have a very little to do with the timing, intensity and duration of my current and future seasons. I can make my desires known to God, I can pray for preparedness and sensitivity, I can ask for His mercy to cover me and help me through the intensity of it – but i cannot wish it away, neither can I wish it away. And Comforting because it means that the author and finisher of that season is in complete control – He is running point. As long as I follow His lead, I cannot be blindsided, I cannot be overwhelmed by the flood, I will not die of thirst, and I will definitely make it safely to the other side.

But let us be honest – when we are stepping into the new – we think we are prepared – till we realize we are not. Do you always look at the thick clouds over head (El Nino warning and all) and just rejoice at how many hours you will spend in traffic? Do you look forward to the hard work of turning and tilling the soil, then sowing, weeding and harvesting? No – not always. Stop looking at me like that – No. You do not always wake up with a hop skip and jump. Aiii – there are days you will be so delighted by the pitter patter of the rain drops, and others you will jump in dread at the sound of thunder and lightning. But guess what – its part of the package.

So – just know – renewal comes with work!! Hard work!! Promotion comes with responsibility; expansion comes with greater demand on your time and resources. And the only thing that keeps you going? The joy of the coming harvest. The thrill of seeing the fruit of the new season. The satisfaction that you put in your all – and it will yield a harvest. The peace knowing you are not doing it alone – that the author and finisher also has the instructions manual. You only need to keep looking to him for direction.

So, step into the new – Step into the “now” of the great, amazing refreshing rain as it soaks the earth with one expectation – that you will need to put in the WORK. Rebuild, Refire, Standards Raised – Work. God is with you – He will reward you. He has prepared you for the next – so, like the new crop pushing through the soil – push through and thrive.

It will be worth the wait. I promise.