THE FOUR PHASES OF DROUGHT
As I did my research for this message, I discovered that farmers have indentified 4 stages of drought. Each stage has its own challenges.
The 4 stages:
- The period of active growth prior to the onset of drought.
- The period of slowing growth.
- The period when growth stops.
- The period after the rain comes.
- Each stage has needs to be managed.
- Lets look at each stage:
THE PERIOD OF ACTIVE GROWTH PRIOR TO THE ONSET OF DROUGHT.
When everything is going well, it is a time for preparation and building up of reserves. This is the time to build the dams and develop our reserves. Joseph did this in the Old Testament. During the seven years of plenty he prepared and stockpiled reserves for the seven years of lack.
THE PERIOD OF SLOWING GROWTH.
How long this period will last depends on the effectiveness of your planning. This is the riskiest stage, because the decisions you make here will most likely determine the eventual outcome of the drought for you. This is a time to consolidate.
THE PERIOD WHEN THE GROWTH STOPS.
This stage is marked by the fact that usually it is in this stage when significant decisions will need to be made. You need to make a judgement as to how long you may have to carry on. This is a time to make adjustments and make them quickly. Every day you delay making the adjustments needed, is a day closer to disaster. Resist the temptation to be swallowed in fear or panic. If you make the decisions very early you will have more options. It is unlikely that you will save everything, but make sure you save what is really important.
THE PERIOD AFTER THE RAIN COMES.
Droughts are usually periods of low rainfall rather than no rainfall. You never can be sure if the rain you get is the break, or just a normal part of the drought, so you must maintain your vigilance and resolve, and keep your planning up-to-date.
If you have made the right choices in the previous stages, then you are set or positioned for maximum recovery.
SCRIPTURE READING: Jeremiah 17:5-10
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