Rain
A Harvest is Coming!
The song “Touch From You” by Tamela Mann, has been playing in my head like a broken record. “Send your latter rain, send you latter rain…” Yes, it just keeps echoing in my thoughts. Until I thought to pray, “Lord, do it! Send your latter rain.” Little did I know that the prayer would spark an incredible journey. Curious, I decided to search for the meaning. AI defined it as “an outpouring of God’s presence.” That simple explanation struck a chord,
I felt the Spirit of God whisper to me in that moment to listen to a sermon by Pastor Travis Greene. Up until that point, I had only enjoyed his music and caught a few of his teachings. But this day was different. I was compelled to hear his message, so I chose a sermon titled “Eyes Wide Shut.”
As soon as I began to listen, I felt barriers in my mind breaking. The sermon illuminated answers I had been seeking about a recent disappointment. A spiritual hunger ignited within me, and I spent hours consuming Pastor Travis’s messages from sun up to sun down: while driving to work, at home, and everywhere in between.
In the midst of this, God began speaking to my heart, whispering promises:
• “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”
• “Your latter will be greater.”
• “You are the better part you’ve been searching for.”
One morning during my commute to work, I prayed again, “Lord, send your latter rain.” Instantly, I heard God whisper: “In the last days, I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh.” Overwhelmed with emotion that He would respond so suddenly, I searched for the verse and discovered it was Joel 2:28. Not knowing the full context, I decided to listen to the entire chapter 2 of Joel, and what I heard left me in awe. The chapter not only included the promise of God pouring out His Spirit, but it also directly referenced the “latter rain.” I realized in that moment that what was happening was deeply prophetic. God was delivering a message from heaven, speaking to me all along and confirming His Word in an incredibly personal way each time the song’s lyrics, “Send Your Latter Rain,” echoed in my heart. When researching the term “Latter Rain,” I initially overlooked the scriptural references in the AI-provided definition.
AI Explains:
1. In the Bible, the “latter rain” symbolizes God’s blessings and spiritual renewal. Found in passages like Joel 2:23 and Hosea 6:3, it refers to autumn rains (preparing the ground for sowing) and spring rains (maturing crops for harvest). Spiritually, it represents a final outpouring of the Holy Spirit, often associated with revival or end-time prophecy.
2. In the Pentecostal Movement, the latter rain was a symbolizes the power of God on His church that emerged in the late 1940s in North America. It emphasized spiritual gifts, prophecy, healing, and the restoration of the fivefold ministry (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers). Though it influenced many Pentecostal and Charismatic churches, it was controversial for its unorthodox practices.
3. In Agriculture, “latter rain” describes late-season rains crucial for ripening crops, symbolizing hope and abundance before harvest.
Joel 2:22-28 KJV reads:
“Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.”Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil. And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed. And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:”
After reviewing AI’s definition and gaining an understanding of the scripture reference of the “latter rain,” I realized even more how much this scripture holds profound personal significance as it aligns with experiences and revelations in my life today:
The Former Rain symbolizes the first outpouring of God’s spirit —often during a time of preparation, and sacrifice. In agriculture, it’s the rain that softens the ground for sowing seeds. Spiritually, it’s a season of cleansing, sacrifice, hardships, and loss. Reflecting on my life, I saw the former rain in my struggles as a single mother, the heartbreak of divorce, and the financial instability that followed. These were my seasons of sowing in tears, making sacrifices, and trusting God despite the pain
The Latter Rain symbolizes the second outpouring of God’s Spirit, a time of renewal and hope that prepares us for the actual harvest. In agriculture, It’s the rain that matures the crops, signaling that the season of reaping is near. As I listened to Joel 2:23-28, I realized the significance of the latter rain. God was reminding me that restoration was coming—restoration of the years the locusts had eaten, of stability, joy, and peace.
The First Month marks a significant time of new beginnings. As we are now in the last month of 2025, and approaching the first month in January; however, the term “in the first month’ relates to the Hebrew calendar, where Nisan (March/April) is considered the first month of the year. The scripture’s mention of the “latter rain in the first month” aligns with hope and preparation for an abundant harvest to come.
“I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten” resonates deeply as God’s promise to restore what I lost over the past 12 years—my home, stability, ministry, peace of mind, and happiness. This restoration points to the harvest season of 2025.
“And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied” signifies the upcoming harvest and blessings after years of loss and inconsistency. It is a promise of abundance after seasons of giving and lack.
“My people shall never be ashamed” is a powerful assurance of redemption. After living with shame since my divorce, this verse reaffirms that God will never let His people live in disgrace.
“In the last days, I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy” speaks directly to God’s promise for my children and our nation. Despite my daughter’s doubts, this verse reassures me of God’s faithfulness and His plans for their lives, including the prophetic gift prophesied over my son Elijah and the unique teachings of the Bible through my son Emmanuel..
The former and latter rain are both essential in God’s process:
• The Former Rain prepares us for sowing. It’s a painful season of cleansing and sacrifice. It’s God’s comfort during our hardest seasons, giving us the strength to keep going and sowing even when everything feels dry. It’s that encouragement we need when we feel empty or broken, helping us plant seeds of faith during difficult times. Without it, we wouldn’t have the strength to continue. As the Bible says, “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.”
• The Latter Rain prepares us for harvest. It’s a hopeful season of renewal and anticipation. t’s God’s spirit that fills us with hope, reminding us that what we’ve sown is about to come to fruition. It’s a season of renewed faith, preparing us for the blessings ahead.
This process unfolds in three stages:
• Us: The seeds we have sown through tears, the sacrifices we’ve made, and the losses we’ve endured.
• God: The outpouring of His Spirit upon all flesh, as promised in the last days: “I will pour out my spirit on all flesh.”
• Earth: The harvest of the seeds we’ve sown, where God blesses the ground to yield the fruit of His promises.
Simply put, God uses the former rain to sustain us in our struggles, while He uses the latter rain to fill us with hope for the harvest. Both rains signify God’s presence in every season of our lives, preparing Us for his promises on Earth —whether we are sowing in tears or reaping in joy.
Harvest is Coming!
As we enter the new year of 2025, I’m holding onto the promises of Joel 2:
• Restoration of what was lost.
• A season of plenty and satisfaction.
• A Spirit-filled life, marked by prophecy, dreams, and visions.
A Personal Prophecy
God whispered, “I’m turning your mourning into dancing, and your ashes into beauty,” As he used my current disappointment as a stepping stool for greatness. He showed me that the pain I endured was preparing me to experience His best—to become the better version of myself, and to attract the better things He has in store. God whispered again, “You shall have the better part, and that part is you.” He was showing me that what I desired was for me to be better. My resistance was an opportunity for the better in me to show up. I couldn’t show-up if I had not experienced the rejection.
A Word of Confirmation
After composing this article, I watched a sermon by Pastor Travis Greene titled “Track Record 3.0” that I believe confirms the words from God I’ve received. In this December 2023 sermon, Pastor Travis prophesied that God is preparing to send His latter rain, leading to an abundant harvest in 2025. This stood as a testament to me that all of my experiences these past weeks was God leading me to His word of prophecy for me, my family, and those who believe.
God’s latter rain is falling, preparing me—and all who believe—for the harvest to come. If you’ve been in a season of sowing in tears, take heart: the rain is coming, and with it, the promise of joy.
Join the Conversation
What season are you in today? Trust that God is working in every part of your process, preparing you for the abundant harvest He has planned.
