Many of you know that we moved 2 1/2 years ago from Southern California to Northern California to be near our youngest daughter and her family. We have two precious granddaughters ages 5 and 2. It was a “big” move to say the least. We’d lived our whole married life in Southern California and had deep roots in our church, with family and friends. My husband, Don was very well connected in the “basketball” world as he’d coached for 40 years in Orange County where we lived.
Without going into the whole story, God just made it clear to us that we were to pull up roots and leave a home we’d lived in for 24 years and a community that we’d raised our daughters in and weather that we loved! I’m a native Southern California girl who loved the beach. As a couple we’d often drive 25 minutes to Newport Beach where we’d walk along the boardwalk to get exercise and just to feel the ocean breeze waft through our hair and fill our nostrils.
When we finally settled in our new home, reality set in. We’d left our home, dear friends, and life as we knew it. Our first winter in Nor Cal, (the new term we learned after our move), was an adjustment. The fall was breathtaking with red, orange, and yellow leaves that decorated the 4 mile drive to our daughter’s house. It’s my favorite season here, but it only lasts a short time. Then, we are met with the rainy season that lasts far too long for this SoCal girl!
After we were all settled in and adjusted to our new normal, I was grateful for God’s leading us here. I was feeling content, though I wasn’t sure what God had for me here. One day, while spending time with God I thanked Him for the full life I’d had in SoCal; for the ten years of teaching Bible study at our church, for the countless friendships and women who’d become like sisters to me over the years, for deep connection in ministry, in my private practice as a therapist for over 25 years, and the traveling and speaking I’d done across the United States, Europe, and Asia. As I concluded my time with God, I thanked Him for all the years He’d blessed me and used me. How faithful He’d been to take my brokenness as a sexual abuse survivor, to restore and redeem me and allow me the privilege of sharing my story and the healing process He had taken me through to peoples from all different walks of life. I’m still in awe of what He has done. I closed my conversation that day by saying, “Lord, thank you. There’s nothing more I need to do. I’m content to retire.” I thought it was all settled.
Shortly after my “pronouncement”, God had something to say: “Who said anything about retiring? I’m not done with you yet. I have more for you to do!”
I wish I could tell you I said, “Really Lord? What do you have planned for me? I’m all in!” I didn’t say that. I said, “Lord, I’m getting old and I’m tired. I’m really happy to just retire.” He then reminded me of something I’d prayed early in my adult life—”Lord, I want to be like Caleb in the Bible—as strong at 85 as I was at 40!” Where was that woman now? Then He brought something else to mind. He simply said, “Remember the latter rains.”
I had done a message in 2000 called “Waiting for the Latter Rains.” It was based on Hosea 6:3:
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 (former) rains, like the spring (latter) rains that water the earth. NIV (KJV)
I can’t really explain why this verse seemed to resonate with me the first time I read it, but it did. As I studied that verse and others in Scripture that mentioned the former and latter rains, this is what I learned:
Former rains- fall between October/November prepares the soil for seed—a sign to the farmer to start ploughing/planting.
Latter rains- fall between March/April recognized as God’s blessing-brings the grain to head—bursts forth the harvest.
You may be wondering if I got this wrong—it seems backwards. You have to remember this is based on the Jewish calendar.
As God reminded me of this teaching, He seemed to be saying to me that He knows where I am. He knows that I see my life declining as I am in my “latter” years, but His ways are not always our ways. He seemed to be saying, “Child, I have more for you to do…there is harvest that I am going to burst forth in and through your life, but you must walk with Me and trust Me to bring it forth.”
So here I am. Retirement is no longer on my radar—I can’t be like Caleb if I am not wholeheartedly surrendered to His purposes. I hope you will come along with me on this journey! It’s bound to be full of surprises and growth spurts. I’m not sure where it will take us…but I am sure that the “Lord of the harvest will burst it forth” for our good and His glory!
I’m all in—how about you?