Holding Position

Do not keep silent, O God!  Do not hold Your peace, and do not be still, O God! 

(Psalm 83:1, NKJV)

Any time when a famous musical entertainment group is set to perform, the crowd that swells around the venue waiting for the gates to open stand in anticipation and excitement of what will be experienced when the doors open.  For passers-by who have no idea  of the event, the presence of so many people draws their curiosity to find out what is happening in the venue.  Though they might not attend the event, they connect with the enthusiasm of those waiting.  The fans are highly animated and when the doors open, they push in like a flood with high anticipation of a fulfilling experience.  This continues until the event begins and hopefully, it meets their expectations which makes for great stories in the days ahead. 

At an individual level, we too have moments when we feel like nothing is moving and we are just waiting, our anticipation is high but for many people, the positive expectation concerning the matter wanes with passing of time.  Our reference verse is a cry that comes from a frustrated heart.  I do not know about you but I admit that there have been times when I have found myself in such a space.  Such moments are confusing as one feels lost, like a child looking at a wall with the shape of a door but never opening for the door is simply a shape and not an opening.  King David was not a stranger to these kind of situations, he cried out to God asking Him not to be deaf or silent for if no answer would come to him, he would be like those who are dead (Psalm 28:1).  That is the height of desperation where the psalmist lets us know that if God did not respond to him, he felt like he was dying.  In another verse, he speaks of seeking the Lord like a deer panting for water, the waiting again was a matter of life and death for David (Psalm 42:1).  The honesty of David in sharing his pain, helps us to know that our struggles while waiting for God to answer us is not unique to us, The same has happened before to others and God has come through for them, He therefore will come through for us too.  We learn from David’s life, that he did not have a plan B, his eyes were clearly on God and God alone.  Through the dark seasons, David reminds himself that his soul will silently wait on God alone: his rock, salvation and defense and he concludes by saying he will not be moved (Psalm 62:1-2).  That beloved is the attitude that anchors our waiting season. Regardless of our agony and helplessness when we find ourselves in these situations, we know from the word of God that He still comes through for His people.  When we lean on Him as we wait, He gives us the grace to be patient and to keep hope alive.  We know that as we journey in life, God is in our midst and He is a victorious warrior who will quiet us with His love (Zephaniah 3:17).  Beloved, in the holding moments of life, remain focused on the God who never changes and never fails, stand in His assured love for you and snuggle in His quieting love.  May we be encouraged in knowing that even when we do not see our immediate expectation, our Father’s hand is in the background moving the pieces in our favour.  I pray that we wait patiently for the unfolding of His working when He is done.  The same God who came up to the aid of those who went before us will come through for us as we wait.

Thoughts:

How do you navigate holding times?

Has God ever surprised you with an expected outcome after a waiting period?

What memoirs do you hold to encourage yourself in the future?