The Early Rain and The Latter Rain (Food Pantry Celebration)
10.26.25 Stetson Memorial UMC
Dear beloved family of Stetson Memorial UMC,
Yesterday, I had the honor of officiating the wedding of Dominique and Ainslie—while, at the same time, my husband led the funeral service in Houlton for our church member, David Guy, whose sudden death broke our hearts. That day reminded me again how our lives are full of both joy and sorrow—celebrations of new beginnings and tears at the end of earthly journeys.
This past week, we have prayed for many families who lost their loved ones and for our dear Ross and Barbara, who went through a sudden surgery. With so many heavy hearts and concerns, I felt as if my spirit had dried up.
One early morning, before dawn, I went running with Victor. The stones on the dry riverbed were glimmering under the moonlight. For a moment, I thought I could cross, but then I saw how empty and dry it was—like bones showing through the earth. It made my heart ache as if my own soul had become a desert. So many things beyond my control were swirling around me—sickness, death, uncertainty, and grief. I prayed quietly, “Lord, send your rain.”
Later that day, perhaps God was also sad, because He poured down rain like a waterfall of tears. Hannah and I went to church and prayed together, asking God to send His gentle rain upon our dry hearts and land. When the rain came, it felt as though the river of grace began to rise again—gratitude overflowed, and love was renewed. I was reminded once again that my own riverbed will always dry up unless God fills it. I live depending only on Him. Even today, when I cannot draw up water by my own strength, He sends rain through prayer, praise, fellowship, and His Word. Then, the river of my heart flows again with the living water of Christ until the day I meet the Lord.
Depending Only on God
This experience reminded me of the early rain and the latter rain in Canaan. Before the Israelites entered the Promised Land, they had lived as slaves in Egypt. Though they were not free, they could still rely on the Nile River, which watered the land through human effort and irrigation. But when God brought His people into Canaan—a land of mountains and valleys—they had to depend on rain from heaven. In this land, survival itself depended on the grace of God.
The Israelites waited for two special rains every year. The early rain fell in autumn (around October or November), softening the dry ground so they could plant seeds. The latter rain came in spring (around March or April), ripening the grain for harvest. Deuteronomy 11:13–15 says,
“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—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.”
The early and latter rains are signs of covenant blessings—not results of human effort, but of love, obedience, and trust in God. The early rain represents the beginning of God’s work, while the latter rain symbolizes His faithful completion.
In the New Testament, Peter quotes the prophet Joel (Joel 2:23) on the day of Pentecost, explaining that the pouring out of the Holy Spirit is like the early rain. The church was born through that first outpouring of the Spirit. James 5:7 also encourages believers to be patient like a farmer waiting for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting for both the early and latter rain, until the coming of the Lord.
Just as God began His work through the early rain of the Spirit, He will also send the latter rain before Christ’s return—a great revival that ripens the final harvest of souls.
The Food Pantry’s Early Rain and Latter Rain
I have witnessed this same spiritual pattern in the life of our church’s Food Pantry ministry. Like the rains in Canaan, it began with a small drop of God’s grace and has now become a flowing stream of His provision.
Jean shared today how the Spirit moved in her heart and in the hearts of volunteers. I see in them the early rain of the Spirit—seeds of compassion planted by God. And now, through their service, I see the latter rain—the fruit of love and generosity blessing our whole community.
Our pantry began humbly in a small closet next to the pastor’s office, started by Christy Trembly. Five years ago, it fit in a small cart. Today, under the faithful leadership of Jean and all our volunteers, it serves food to about 80 families in our community. What a miracle of God’s steady rain!
When I asked our people what the Food Pantry means to them, their answers deeply touched me.
- Penny said, “It’s a gift of love that keeps on giving.”
- Chrissy said, “The food pantry is a literal lifesaver.”
- Another person said, “It brings our community together to share food and love.”
- Katie, a single mother of two, said, “God always provides—often through the hands of others. The pantry is not just food; it’s hope and peace of mind. It fills stomachs, yes—but more importantly, it fills hearts with gratitude and faith.”
One person emailed me recently and shared this testimony:
“I discovered the food pantry during one of the hardest times of my life. In mid-2024, I went through a bitter divorce and lost my home. I was not completely destitute, but I had to make many painful choices, even about what I could afford to eat. I lost over 40 pounds. The food pantry gave me food stability and continues to do so. Every day is still a struggle, but the pantry lifted a huge burden from me during my darkest season. I now volunteer whenever I can because I want to give back. The pantry has made, and continues to make, a big difference. God bless you all.”
Isn’t that beautiful? Through this ministry, God has shown His heart. The early rain came through the vision, prayers, and hard work of those who started it. The latter rain continues to fall through every volunteer, donor, and prayer warrior. Together, we are seeing the harvest—lives restored, faith strengthened, and hearts filled with hope.
This is not just a social program. It is a living testimony that God provides.
Our God Who Sends the Rain
Today, some of us may feel like we are walking across dry stones, like a riverbed that has lost its flow. Maybe your faith feels weak, your heart tired, or your prayers unanswered. But remember—our God is the One who sends rain upon dry ground.
When we confess that we cannot water the land ourselves, we open our hearts for His mercy to fall. The God who sent early and latter rains to Israel will surely pour His grace on us, too. Through ministries like the Food Pantry, God is showing us His faithfulness.
Psalm 107 reminds us that the Lord hears the cry of the hungry and thirsty. He satisfies the longing soul, heals the brokenhearted, and turns deserts into flowing springs.
So today, let us thank God for the rain He has sent—both the early and the latter rain. Let us pray for more of His Spirit to fall on our church, our families, and our community. And may we continue to sing of His hesed—His steadfast, unfailing love—because He alone fills our empty hearts and makes rivers flow in the desert.
Amen.
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