Hold

Written by cycleguy on March 6th, 2013

“Thank you for calling (fill in the blank). We are sorry that all of our operators are busy assisting other customers at this point. (Yeah right).  Please wait and your call will be answered in the order in which it was received.”

Don’t you just love hearing those words?   Probably about as much I liked hearing a few years ago, “Well Bill, that tori has to come out ($$$$$) and when it is done you will have work done on your teeth, i.e. braces. (More $$$$$$$).”   That is how I feel about being put on hold.

It seems like I spend 1/2 my life on hold.

“Will you help do me do this?”

“Can I let you know?”  (translated: probably not, but I want to give the “air” of thinking about it)

I do have a point to this seemingly random post.  Wednesday morning I was reading this Scripture during my Encounter Time.  Most people, when they read that passage, will latch onto verses 1-2.  And rightly so.  There is so much beautiful imagery there that makes sense to anyone pursuing an alive relationship with God.  But I know some, and at times I could also fall into that box, who find verses 5-6 more their speed.  It builds in intensity with verses 8-11.  In all honesty, is there anyone reading this post who has not felt the sting of being “on hold” with God?  There have been times verse 9 describes my life much more than verse 8.

All the screaming in the world doesn’t make things move any faster.

All the pounding of the fist doesn’t make God say, “Okay, okay.  I get your point.  You are royally ticked and I give up.”

All the pouting we might do doesn’t make God feel any worse for the “hold pattern”.

All the threats we throw out don’t have God back-pedaling.

All the bribes and trade-offs don’t have Him finagling in His mind on whether to take us up on our offer.

What God does want us to come to, and what we need to come to, is the reality and truth of verse 11b: “Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God.”

So, rather than seeing HOLD as a bad thing, maybe we can change our perspective by adding a few words:

HOLD ON TO HOPE.

What are your thoughts on “hold?”  How has “hold” been beneficial to you?  What do you “hold” on to when the silence is deafening?

 

16 Comments so far ↓

  1. I feel like I was on hold for several years. I asked The Lord for change. When I told Him I was good with things staying the same, they changed. Being on hold taught me patience.

  2. Daniel says:

    I am all for trying to keep some modicum of hope alive. But as weeks turn to years and years to decades, at some point you have to accept that you can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need. (or something like that anyway)

  3. floyd says:

    We’re on the same page this week, Bill. Sometimes the things we think are the worst things are really the best things for us. Well said about the sovereignty of God and how our desires are irrelevant. It is our gift and blessing to be able to be loved and cared for enough to be watched over and guided to where and who we are supposed to be. Good one, Bill.

  4. Tom says:

    Thanks Bill, I love holding onto hope. 🙂 Thankful God gives us hope in His Word. He did have us both seeking His Hope today!

  5. Debbie says:

    I loved the switch from being put on hold to holding on to hope. 🙂 Being put on hold / hope has deepened my faith and trust in Him and teaches me to look for Him in everything, all day long. God bless you, Pastor Bill!

  6. Dan Black says:

    When I know I”m going to be on hold I usually put my phone on speaker and do something while I’m waiting.

    Many times God has told me to “hold” to protect me from unseen danger. I’ve learned when God says “hold” I need to stay and wait. Great post Bill!

    • cycleguy says:

      I do that also Dan, but find myself distracted nonetheless (it is that multi-task thing). Good point about unseen danger and being on hold.

  7. We’re often put on hold specifically so that we learn to hold on. Patience is tough, but it teaches us so much. The key is that we have to understand that being on hold is a time of building, not just downtime where we tune God out.

  8. Mike says:

    I’ve learned not to hold on to the idea that I have it all together. I’ve leaned to hold on to the fact that no matter how bad things get, God will help me through it. Sometimes the knowing and the feeling are at different points on the scale, but I know I can hold on to God’s promises.

  9. I’m really encouraged by reading the accounts of the great men and women of God who have gone before us when I’m on hold–because they’ve been on hold, too!