God's Holding
Pattern Many times God will allow a
painful situation or a painful circumstance in our
life to "swallow us up." This season in our spiritual
growth is a holding pattern.
We can't move to the left or the right. All we can do is sit, like Jonah sat in the belly of that great fish, so God can have our undivided attention and
speak to us. God put Jonah in a holding pattern
because He needed to speak to his heart.
Jonah was all alone. There were no friends to call, no colleagues to drop by, no books to read, no
food to eat, no interference, and no interruptions.
He had plenty of time to sit, think, meditate, and
pray.
When we're deep down in the midst of a
difficult situation, God can talk to us. When He has
our undivided attention, He can show us things
about ourselves that we might not otherwise have
seen.
A Few Of God's Holding
Patterns:
When you are sick in your
physical body and you have prayed, but God has
not healed you yet, you are in a holding
pattern.
When you are having problems with
your children, spouse or other loved one and you
have put them on the altar, but God has not
delivered them yet, you are in a holding
pattern.
When you have been praying for the
salvation of a loved one and they have not been
saved yet, you are in a holding pattern.
When
you are in a broken relationship and you have
given it over to God, but it has
not been restored yet, you are in a holding
pattern.
When the doors slam shut before you
can knock on them, you are in a holding
pattern.
When we are deep in the belly of a
difficult situation, there are no interruptions. God
has our undivided attention. All we can do is sit,
think, meditate, and pray.
We cannot run from
God because there are no mountains that are high
enough, valleys that are low enough, rivers that
are wide enough, rooms that are dark enough, or
places that are hidden enough from
Him.
We must remember to praise Him
while we're waiting and remember three
things:
The pattern has a purpose.
The
pattern has a plan.
The pattern has a process.
So stop struggling and start listening, praying and
trusting. He'll keep you right where you are until
you can hear clearly Him say, "I love you."
Pray:
Father, heal my unbelief. I know
you love me and will turn anything around to
benefit me. You have planned nothing for me but
victories and I am ready to receive them
regardless of how difficult the path.
Amen.
Thought:
When God measures a man,
He puts the tape around the heart instead of the
head.
Author
Unknown