What is a "holding pattern?" In aviation, holding is a maneuver designed to delay an aircraft already in flight while keeping it within a specific airspace.
Holds can be issued by air traffic control, if the ceiling and visibility are low, and arrivals to an airport have to perform a full instrument approach. They also can happen when traffic volumes are high, or if there is a problem, such as a communications radio failure ahead. In other words, "around and around" we go, when we will land, only God knows.
But how do you define a "holding pattern" in real life? And, are you in a "holding pattern?"
In real life a "holding pattern" is a state of waiting or suspended activity or progress.
There are so many people whose lives are in a "holding pattern." This holding pattern is waiting on God for an answer to your prayers. You see, I have heard it said that God answers our prayers in one of three ways. God will answer, "YES" and our prayer will be answered. When God answer is "NO," our prayer has been denied and we have to accept the answer and then just move on. Then God will answer, "NOT YET" and we have to wait Waiting is the hardest thing to do.
We are unprepared for the "NOT YET" answer we receive from God. We have become a person "in waiting." We are waiting on God for an answer. But while we are waiting, we start to see problems and trouble. While waiting, we are confronted with loss, disappointments, afflictions, conflicts, and sorrow. This is not what we are expecting.
I don't care what the name, "holding pattern" suggests nor what the maneuver means, for the passengers and the pilots, they are anything but idle during a "holding pattern." "Holding patterns" characterizes our walk of faith. We have to sit in prolonged silence while we wait on an answer from God. I have heard that this teaches us the discipline of waiting on God.
If anyone understands the discipline of waiting is Abraham, David and Joseph, just to name a few. The Bible brings to life the stories of God's faithful people who are perfect examples to teach us how to live with courage, hope, and faith, during our "holding pattern" of wait.
"Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes wait for the Lord" (Psalm 27:14).
We have so many questions and they come frequently, but the answers do not come so easily. We are in a "holding pattern" of waiting. This is a season of waiting. We become so used to the green light in life when God says, YES or the red light in life when God says, "NO." But this caution yellow light, which is constantly flashing, "NOT YET," is a hard pill to swallow. That yellow caution light of "NOT YET" is flashing, WAIT!
We must practice the discipline of waiting. We must wait on God. Wait and watch for His guidance, directions, and His timing. We must listen for His voice and for His instructions.
While in the "holding pattern," we must WAIT! WATCH! LISTEN!
We learn our greatest lessons while in the "holding pattern" of wait. God is our Pilot. Our God knows our destination, the perfect timing of our prayer arrival.
"Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him." ( Isaiah 30:18)
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