by: Jason Watford
1 Thessalonians 3:7-9 says, “Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;”
Recently, my dad and I were having a conversation about his past and about how he fought in the Vietnam War. I always love hearing my dad speak about this topic and hearing his war stories. I asked my dad, “What, in your opinion, was the hardest thing about fighting in the Vietnam War?” One of his answers was shocking to me; it was, “I hated when my squad was told to ‘hold’. We could not retreat or attack; we just had to hold and defend our place.” He went on to say that there were times when we could see the enemy laughing at us and shooting at us. He said they knew that he was told to hold and that there was nothing that he could do about it. I proceeded to ask him why he was sometimes told to hold and why couldn’t he just go anyway. His answer was simply, “I was told what to do and that’s what I did.”
In my spiritual life, I have always been taught to attack the Devil, Hell and to win the world for Jesus Christ. But here’s a question: Has God ever told you to just “Hold”? Don’t get me wrong, God NEVER says retreat. God often says attack. In my own personal life, I know that occasionally God has told me to hold. Maybe health restrictions, financial problems, previous lifestyle, children or many other things could contribute to God telling you to “hold” in your life. It is very frustrating and difficult as a preacher to see what the Devil is doing in America with the younger generation, and to be told to “hold” by God could be strange, but it does happen. Why are there good men who could pastor but have no place yet? Why are there people willing to go soul winning but health restrictions will not allow them to? Why are there ladies who would love to get into church and serve the Lord but a husband will not allow them? Allow me to give you four things to hold on to when you are told to “Hold” by God.
1. Hold Fast to Jesus. (Matthew 26:47-49) When the tough times come in your life and you must hold, make sure that you remember that Jesus has never bailed out on you, so don’t you bail out on Him. Two years ago, I wanted a church so badly to pastor; however, for eight months I candidated for churches while painting light poles in Baton Rouge, LA. The whole time God was saying “Hold, Jason.” I did not like holding, but looking back, God knew exactly what He was doing. When your holding time comes, hold fast to Jesus.
2. Hold fast to your teaching and your doctrine. (2 Thessalonians 2:15) When your holding time comes, remember what you have been taught from God’s Word from influential men of God in the past. This is when it is time for you to put into practice what you have been taught. When those eight months of holding came in my life, I was thankful for men who taught me the Scriptures. I see so many get frustrated and throw away all the hundreds of sermons they’ve preached and heard. How unfortunate it is to see that.
3. Hold fast to your salvation. (Hebrews 10:23) When your holding time comes, continually remember and re-live your salvation testimony and be thankful for it. I was twelve-years-old when I got saved. I never want to forget that day. There will be a day in your life when that may be the only thing that you can hold on to. Do you remember your salvation story?
4. Hold fast to your position in life and don’t quit. (Revelation 2:25) When all else fails, remember your God is the authority and if He says, “Hold,” then hold. As my dad said, “That’s what I was told to do, so I did it.” That should be our attitude in our walk with God. Whatever God says, we do it.
Nobody likes holding. Every Christian I meet and know likes attacking the Devil and “tearing it up” for Christ. However, when your holding time comes, will you have what it takes to hold fast for the Lord?
Jason Watford
Pastor
Spring Creek Baptist Church
Seven Springs, NC