For the past twenty-plus years, I’ve had numerous conversations with friends about feeling like I’m in a holding pattern. I’ve used the flashing red hold button on phones to symbolically describe my life. My friends and I talk about how the Lord just keeps saying wait regarding various situations and so we sit in the waiting room.
I believe I’ve had it wrong all this time. Yes, we are to wait upon the Lord for his timing but what if I am placing opportunities on hold waiting for the answer to one situation? What if God has and is saying wait here for this situation (be still) but don’t sideline yourself, don’t isolate yourself waiting for Him to provide that one answer.
Unfortunately, I guess, I am a very cautious, hyper-vigilant person. Taking risks simply doesn’t seem natural or wise to me in most all circumstances. So, if I have a situation that needs God-sized prayer (and most do), and no clear answer presents itself, I am all too quick to sit down, hunker down, and fixate on the problem. Or I’ll busy myself with meaningless tasks and simply waste my days accomplishing very little that is worthwhile.
We aren’t on hold. Allowing one circumstance to stifle our existence isn’t the answer. We are commanded to pray fervently over and through the situation, but we aren’t called to check out and sit down until our answer comes. We must keep moving forward, asking the Lord for the next thing all the while waiting on closure for the old thing because sometimes our answer to the OLD is found in the NEW. Fear tells us we better hunker down and hide, faith says get out there and live and give and be the light we were created to be right now—not later.
One of my favorite scripture passages is found in the book of Isaiah. The commentary says this regarding Chapter 43:15-21:
This section pictures a new exodus for a people once again oppressed, as the Israelites had been as slaves in Egypt before the exodus. They would cry to God, and again he would hear and deliver them. A new exodus would take place through a new desert. The past miracles were nothing compared to what God would do for his people in the future.
Read the following passage and let it sink in that as Jesus followers, we are God’s people. Let’s stop living in the past and placing our God-given dreams and talents on hold allowing the enemy to rob of us of our todays and tomorrows. Instead, let’s answer the call and get excited about the new thing the Lord is doing!
I am the LORD, your Holy One,
Israel’s Creator, your King.
This is what the LORD says—
he who made a way through the sea,
a path through the mighty waters,
who drew out the chariots and horses,
the army and reinforcements together,
and they lay there, never to rise again,
extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:
Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.
The wild animals honor me,
the jackals and the owls,
because I provide water in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,
the people I formed for myself
that they may proclaim my praise.
Isaiah 43:15-21
Blessings,
C. Deni Johnson
Right Hand Ministries 