Deep In The Belly

God often allows a painful situation or a painful circumstance in our life to "swallow us up." That season in our spiritual growth is a holding pattern. We can't move to the left or the right. All we can do is sit. Jonah sat in the belly of that great fish, so God could have his undivided attention. God put Jonah in a holding pattern because He needed to speak to his heart. Jonah was all alone. There were no friends to call, no colleagues to drop by, no books to read, no food to eat, no interference, and no interruptions. He had plenty of time to sit, think, meditate, and pray.

When we're deep in the midst of a difficult situation, God can talk to us. When He has our undivided attention, He can show us things about ourselves that we might not otherwise have seen. Have you ever experienced any of these holding patterns?

-You are sick in your physical body and you have prayed but God has not healed you yet.

-You are having problems with your children and you have put them on the altar, but God has not delivered them yet.

-You have been praying for the salvation of a loved one and they have not been saved yet.

-You are in a broken relationship and you have given it over to God, but it has not been restored yet.

-When doors slam shut before you can knock on them.

When you are deep in the belly of a difficult situation, there are no interruptions. God has your undivided attention. All you can do is sit, think, meditate, and pray. You cannot run from God because there are no mountains that are high enough, valleys low enough, rooms that are dark enough, or places that are hidden enough from Him. It's in that place we must remember to praise Him while we're waiting and remember three things:

-His pattern has a purpose.

-His pattern has a plan.

-His pattern has a process.

So stop struggling and start listening, praying and trusting. He'll keep you right where you are until you can clearly hear Him say, "I love you."