Many times God will allow a painful situation or a painful circumstance in our life to “swallow us up.” This 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, like Jonah sat in the belly of that great fish, so God can have our undivided attention and “speak” to us.

God put Jonah in a holding pattern because He needed to speak to his heart. Jonah was alone. There were no friends to call; no colleagues to drop by, no books to read; no food to eat, no interference, and no inter- ruptions. He had plenty of time to sit, meditate, and pray.

When we’re deep down in the midst of a difficult situa- tion, 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 ….

When we are deep in the belly of a difficult situation, there are no interruptions. Hence, God has our un- divided attention. All we can do is sit, meditate, and pray.

We cannot run from God, because there are no mountains that are high enough, valleys that are low enough, rivers that are wide enough, rooms that are dark enough, or secret places that are hidden enough from him.

We need to remember to praise Him while we’re waiting and remember three things: 1. The pattern has a purpose. 2. The pattern has a plan, and 3. The pattern has a process.

So stop struggling and start listening, praying, and trusting. God will keep you right where you are until you can hear him clearly say, “I love you.”

— by Pastor Cornelius F. Warren