There are times and seasons when we stay and abide for a limited time in a circumstance or situation that is “testing” in nature. It seems as if we are in a “holding pattern”. 
We are to remain and patiently wait there for a definite purpose until our Master Trainer, Almighty God, moves us on to another exercise in our spiritual training. Such times can be frustrating and even painful to us if we are restless, impatient, or strive with God in the midst of them. They may even be prolonged…for to move to the next level, we need to pass the tests of the current level. Airplanes that hover over an airport waiting to land are said to be in a “holding pattern”. They cannot “land” until they get clearance from the tower. And often we cannot come out of situations that seem as though we, too, are in a “holding pattern”….waiting until we get clearance from Almighty God’s voice of authority.
These times reveal the level of God’s strength actually resident within us. If we are weak in the area of spiritual strength, that will be revealed. If we have little “staying power” to remain firm under pressure or distress, that will be evident, also. Most importantly, in times such as these, we must realize our human weakness surfaces for the definite purpose of revealing to us our need for complete dependence upon God and our need to submit ourselves more surely unto Him and His strength. This is part of our “wait training”. Waiting in a fiery furnace can be hot and painful….and we do not want to have to remain there one moment longer than necessary. These types of situations are such that we cannot rely upon our own strength for deliverance…but we must learn to look to Jesus and literally rely and rest on Him and His strength to endure until those uncomfortable times pass.
“We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts, we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves, but on God who raises the dead! He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many!” 2 Corinthians 1:8-11 NIV
As we obediently follow Jesus through circumstances and situations which seem to force us to wait, His strength is being worked in us, and the Godly virtue of patience, a fruit of the Spirit, is being perfected within us also. “Let patience have its perfect work…that you may be perfect (mature) and complete, lacking nothing,” James 1:4. In many times of impatience when we were young children, we were told to “Calm down. It is worth the WAIT!” Believe it or not…that was Godly advice!
On a regular basis, we find that the things which are some of the greatest temptations to distract us from a life of constantly walking in the Spirit with Jesus include seasons of “waiting”. These may be times of waiting for a breakthrough in a circumstance. They may include waiting for those that are in our lives to change so that we can continue on together in God’s plan. There may even be periods of waiting in a personal level of growth as we continue in our study to “show ourselves approved to God, as a workman who doesn’t need to be ashamed,” (2 Timothy 2:15). We may literally have to wait upon God Himself to move in the unseen realm of the Spirit concerning a matter that touches our lives very significantly.
Feeling like we are living in a “holding pattern” is an actual reality; but we must learn to trust God in times like these, for their place in our lives is full of purpose! There are many things about life in the Sprint we just have to accept until we can grow to understand the need for them. God longs to lead us in paths of understanding more than we realize; but first, we must prove ourselves faithful to Him in time of waiting for His clearance to land and come out of the “holding pattern”.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths!” Proverbs 3:5-6
~ to be continued…..TESTS and TRIALS
Looking unto JESUS,
Sandy
TRUST: Believing completely and totally in God even in the place of waiting and enduring long
“JESUS CHRIST is the same….yesterday, today, and forever!” Hebrews 13:8
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