Are you in a Holding pattern?
My dad was a pilot in the Marines and we struck up a conversation about holding patterns for planes.
Pilots make a oval shaped course- awaiting a landing time - and listening to constant communication from the flight crew so that can be ready at any minute for their turn on he runway.
Sometimes holding patterns can be minutes, sometimes they can hours- depending on the weather, the timing, airport traffic and other outside factors.
A pilot could be in a holding pattern but never let the passengers know- so that there is no doubt about the pilot’s ability or the safety of the ride.
If the pilot jumps ahead of other planes in line, and lands without following the pattern and sequence- accidents and the death of hundreds could occur.
Being in a holding pattern is not doing circles around and around- it’s a learned skill that entire tests are written about-the angle that you use- the altitude, your speed, your communication ability.
If anyone perfected his spiritual holding pattern- it was Joseph- (see Genesis 30 )awaiting his next phase- awaiting the next communication from this Master Control Tower (the Father) - all doing it was grace, with tact and with precision. No matter the outside factors, Joseph’s stayed the course- even though he was in prison, in a pit or in the palace.
He constantly was listening a awaiting instructions- not losing hope that his time would come. When he couldn’t fulfill his own dreams- he helped interpret other’s dreams and made anywhere better become of his attitude snd spirit.
If Joseph would have jumped ahead without God’s “Okay” then Joseph’s wouldn’t have been in position for the next phase- he would not have the skills built up to take over during a global crisis.
All the skills that he learning during his 13 year long holding pattern- learning to listen- learning to read outside factors, learning patience- he would have caused a mental, physical or spiritual crash!
Are you in a holding pattern? Don’t waste your time of waiting. Learn to sharpen your listening skills. Learn to sharpen your spiritual tact. Learn patience in this time. So that when your number is up to transition into the next phase- you are ready, alert and able to shift into the next season.
Memorize and meditate on these verses this week while you normal, take a walk snd get your next instructions from our Father- the Author perfector of our faith.
Ephesians 6:18
With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,
1 Corinthians 16:13
Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong