Hold the Line!

This is a common phrase used in a variety of ways, places, opportunities, and even as a song lyric by the band Toto in the late 70’s.  When we hold the line, we are maintaining a position of resistance coupled with a determination to keep that which we are defending, that which we currently possess.  Sometimes the line is a fire line, that is a line that an oncoming fire must not cross less there be more damage and even death on the other side.   Sometimes that line is a scrimmage line in a game of sport that must not be crossed less the opposing team get an advantage and win the game.  Sometimes the line is a firing line that is not to be crossed less the offender’s experience be ‘not so’ friendly from the weapons fire of their fellow shooters.  The line is the standard which we are to maintain in order to advance and mature in our effort to overcome the adversity offending it.  Holding out for something better is akin to holding the line when a lessor opportunity presents itself.  Not settling for less will often yield itself to a better opportunity and outcome in the future.  I am not talking about FOBO, that is ‘fear of a better offer,’ so much as I am talking about believing in yourself enough to wait it out, wait on the Lord, maintain what you have and believe that God will open a door in His time, even when other doors open a bit sooner.  The key is knowing when to hold out for the right open door, the right opportunity, the right fit for you personally.

Jesus said it this way, “These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: ⁸ “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.”               – Revelation 3:7,8 

• While this passage pertains to other things outside of the context of this blog, it does however make a relevant point when it comes to looking for and waiting of God for those open doors that He has provided.  God is the One who opens, and ‘no one shuts and shuts and no one opens.’  It’s a statement of sovereign control of the situation and all things. 

We can trust the Lord and wait on Him when it comes to holding the line for the right door to be opened by the Lord.  When all seems lost, God shows up in His time and opens the door, provides what we need, makes a way where them seems to be no way.  He is God and there is none like Him.  I have had my share of closed doors in my lifetime, but one this I have learned, when a door closes in one place, another one opens elsewhere. If I am praying, I am keeping God’s Word, and not denying His name, I have found that this is nothing more than His leading in my life.

The Psalmist said it this way, “The steps of a good man are ordered (established) by the Lord, and He delights in his way. ²⁴ Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand.”                                                – Psalm 37:23,24

• God is the One who is ordering our steps, He is the One who is opening the doors that our steps will walk through, in His time.  We need to hold out for what the Lord has ordered (established) for us.

One of the best ways to discern whether or not a line is to be held or yielded is to ask yourself questions like,

1. Is this what I really want?
2. Did I come all this way for this?
3. If I take this opportunity, will I miss out on what I really want?

There was a song by England Dan and John Ford Coley from the 70’s with the lyric, ‘it’s hard to belong to someone else when the right one comes along.’  It begs the question; Did I rush this decision, or should I have waited it out a bit longer? While the scenario for this song is a bit dire, there’s a harsh reality in there somewhere that needs to be considered when holding the line. How many people have regretted marrying the person that they did because they rushed it or chose not to wait it out a bit longer for what would have been a better fit.  This is the predicament for many a marriage, and all too often, too many divorces.

Sometimes people tend to be pleasers or have a ‘pleaser personality’ where a person will yield what they want for the desire of the other person just because they know it will please them.  Pleasers tend to make unrealistic sacrifices for others because they know that their contribution to a given situation will solve the other person’s emotional dilemma or social problem, but quite possibly at the expense of the pleaser losing out on a future opportunity that may come their way.  Newsflash, you are not the savior of the world, or of the other person you are trying to rescue, be it a relationship or a job opportunity.  You need to do what is best for you and your family, not so much what the other person needs. This is NOT being selfish, it’s being mature and real in where you are at, what you are doing, and what your goals and desires are for your future.  You need to hold the line and take a stand in faith and wait for what you are really looking for in a relationship or job opportunity.

Again, I am not talking about a FOBO, rather, about holding the line until you are sure that what you are about to pursue or commit to is consistent with your will and what you believe to be God’s will for your life.  People who manipulate others, who are self-centered (selfish), or who are more concerned about what they want without considering what the other person wants or feels are predators to pleasers.  They only want what they want, and they will do whatever it takes to get it, even if it means ruining someone else’s’ life or at least interrupting it severely.

Holding the line has everything to do with believing in yourself, knowing what you want, and waiting on God for His timing in the outcome of it.    Even if an opportunity present itself, it doesn’t mean that it’s the right opportunity for you, or at least the right time.  I would challenge you to consider what the next opportunity might look like for you and what it is that you really are looking for in life.  Just because you can solve someone else’s problem doesn’t mean that you should.   Hold the line, wait on the Lord, pray about what it is that you really want and ask God if what is being presented to you is consistent with what you are looking for or desire at this time.  Sometimes the pressure to make a decision is the very thing that you need to be determined to hold the line and not decide, at least not yet.  A second look usually pays off. 

They say that youth is waisted on the young.  The meaning of this has more to do with the experience one gains in their youth as they make decisions and the many lessons learned from them.  Often people say, ‘If I knew then what I know now, I would have done it this or that way.’  The problem is that we don’t get a second chance, so we have to make the best choices with what we have now and move forward with that knowledge and experience to better our future, looking for those open doors of opportunity when they present themselves.  Regret can be a killer when it comes to your present circumstance or predicament.  Too many people, if they could, would change their life, if they could.  This is no place to be or live.  We must learn to love where we are at and make the best with what we have, knowing that we will have to give an account to God one day for our choices and attitudes.

When Mary, the mother of Jesus, was carrying baby Jesus in her womb, she went to visit her cousin Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. Both women were pregnant at the same time and when Mary approached Elizbeth, the child (John) ‘leaped in her (Elizabeth’s) womb.’  John leaped because he was excited about the Christ child and had a prophetic understanding of who Jesus really was; the Son of God. 

“Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, ⁴⁰ and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴² Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! ⁴³ But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. ⁴⁵ Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”                                                               – Luke 1:39-45

In like manner, we also need to ask ourselves, does the opportunity being presented to me cause my spirit to ‘leap’ within me?  We will know if the opportunity is right for us if we wait on the Lord, hold the line in our perseverance of obtaining what we really want, and asking ourselves, am I leaping within?

Each of us as men of God (ladies too) must have a good understanding of who we are in Christ and what we want from Him when it comes to being able to say ‘yes or no’ to a person who is presenting us with an opportunity or challenge.  Holding the line is all about waiting on the Lord, for the Lord to reveal His perfect will to you.  May you find what you’re looking for when it comes to those God-given opportunities that are presented and may they cause your spirit to leap within you as a confirmation that was is being presented is from the Lord and for you specifically.

Blessings,

Encouragemen is a blog written by Pastor Rob Lee, recently relocated to Central Missouri.  He lives with his wife of 32-years, near their three adult children, their spouses, and children (their grandchildren).  Pastor Rob is an Ordained Assemblies of God minister, a former Lead Pastor (25 years), police chaplain, and community advocate.  He continues to serve, consult, and disciple men of God, including those who are in the ministry.