Hold!

I normally have a great deal of patience. Heavy traffic and waiting in lines usually do not bother me. I recognize I have no control and can just go with the flow. But when someone I love is attacked, verbally, physically, or spiritually; I am filled with an anxious indignation. I want to move, attack, and defend now. 

So when my son told me God was telling him to continue to wait, I was frustrated. My immediate thoughts were, “No! You’ve got to do something now. This isn’t fair!” But God told him to wait. “Wait!? Wait for what?! For things to keep piling on?! Until it’s too late to act? No!” But God told him to wait, and he was obeying. So I went to bed frustrated and upset. 

This morning I was praying, interceding on his behalf. God showed me this picture.

The scene from Braveheart. Wallace and the Scottish rebels have gathered to stand against the English invaders. The larger and far superior English army charged at the Scots. The English are on horseback and are pounding across the field. They are gaining speed and it sounds like rolling thunder. But Wallace waits. He yells out to his men “Hold!” Not everyone knows Wallace’s plan. Some run in fear. Others are bouncing wanting to attack. Wallace yells “HOLD!” The English are nearly upon them. “HOLD!” It is so loud, they are so close. “HOLD!” The horsemen lower their lances at the Scots as they are just a few yards away.

God is telling my son to wait. To HOLD! As the enemy is charging down upon him. My son waits, waiting on the Lord. He holds. I stand beside my son. I hold. My wife stands beside him. She holds. This picture, this new point of view brings a different light to the following scripture.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!

Ps.37.7

Wait for the Lord and keep his way,and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off. 

Ps.37.34

It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Lam.3.26

I had once found these passages to be over simplistic in times like these. They made sense when time is not of the essence. When you have no control or course of action. But when you have options, an action you can take, I expected God to guide my steps and meet me in my trial. But He tells us to wait on Him. We need only to be quick to hear, be slow to speak in anger and be slow to act in anger (Jas.1.19-20). The Lord has a plan. When we cry to the Lord, he will deliver us (Isa.19.20) He will defend His people (Isa.51.22). This is what my son heard and what he is doing and we will “hold” with him.

https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkx5kxq7JcXop8APcWy0GIgeF9Je6420Zxt