[Every couple =
of years I repeat this Grif.Net blog. Why? Not sure if any of my readers =
need it, but I know that I really need to be reminded again and =
again.]
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’s, 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:
1. 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
2. When you =
are having problems with your children and you have put them on the =
altar, but God has not delivered them yet, you are in a holding =
pattern.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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:
1. The pattern =
has a purpose.
2. The pattern =
has a plan.
3. 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 clearly hear Him say, “I =
love you.” The shortest distance between a problem and a solution =
is the distance between your knees and the floor. The one who kneels to =
the Lord can stand up to anything.
~~
Dr Bob Griffin =
[email protected] www.grif.net =
"Jesus =
Knows Me, This I Love!"