Saturday a dear sister in Christ told me she felt like she was in a holding pattern. She has been waiting for this promise the Lord gave her but it has yet to come to pass. She has begun to wonder if what was promised is really for her, if she heard right and if she needs to look somewhere else. I know this feeling. For one promise in particular, I have been in a holding pattern for 10 years. Over these 10 years God has shown me the depth of my pride, that deep-seeded section of my heart that masked itself as a subtle part of my personality. Others could see my actions or hear my words and not immediately see it was pride. But man sees the outward appearance; God sees the heart and knows so well how wicked it can be (1 Samuel 16:7; Jeremiah 17:9). While in my holding pattern, I have had an eagle’s eye view of my sin and the wreckage it would cause if I had landed in my new season prematurely. Over these 10 years God has given me several words to help me succeed in my coming season. As my season is coming to an end, I recognize these words as the foundation on which I will land and continue to stand firm on when I get to my next level. Holding patterns can be frustrating: They make you antsy; they make you doubt; they may make you fear, but they are good.

When pilots keep the plane mid-air they announce that they must remain in the air until they are cleared for landing. The weather may be bad, there might be too many planes on the tarmac or the air traffic controllers may be busy guiding other planes. Whatever the issue, pilots keep planes in a holding pattern because it’s not safe to land. When you are in a holding pattern, it’s not safe for you to land in your new season. And God, the pilot of our lives, will tell us why it’s not safe for us to land. We may have pride issues, procrastination problems, fear of man issues, integrity problems, unhealthy competition in our character, or a lack of love. But God is saying “I am the author and finisher of your faith. I will complete the perfect work I began in you and put in you before the foundation of the earth. You will succeed if you just trust and believe in me. So take heed.”

So while you are in your holding pattern I want you to hold on by serving the Lord with gladness (Psalm 100:2). Whatever work God has you doing while waiting, you can complete the work with a joyful heart. While in your holding pattern don’t complain about being in a holding pattern, examine your heart for sin issues that will directly affect your new season and work on changing, serve others as you would have them to serve you and speak well of your present season. The season is ordained and, as such, is reason to be glad.

God wants us to be safe. Let’s praise and thank God that He knows His business and a part of His business is guiding us to safely land where He created us to be. And sometimes His guiding includes holding patterns.

My One Thousand Gifts List

#571-580
Flynn buying dinner so I wouldn’t have to cook
Nate’s concern about Josh’s hurting toe
Getting showered and dressed before taking Joshua to school
Nate and Joshua hugging
Getting Joshua to school by 7:30 a.m.
Justus hiding Joshua’s deodorant and laughing about it when Justus tried to take it from under his body (the hiding place)
God helping me to see His good prominently in three ways over the last two days: 1) Reading about and hearing Psalm 18 within one hour of each other; 2) Receiving flowers in the midst of chaos; 3) God’s reminding me that the consequence of one of my sins could be worse
A two and a half hour nap
Productive social media activity
A quick, easy and tasty dinner