Waiting is one of life’s most universal experiences. We wait in the line at the grocery store while the lady in front of us counts out an endless stream of coupons. We sit in traffic waiting for an accident to be cleared. We wait pensively for test results to come while fearing the worst. A couple struggling with infertility waits for a baby. A single person waits for a spouse. We wait for prayers to be answered or for a relationship to be healed. Regardless of the situation waiting is rarely easy and it stretches us in ways nothing else can. Our culture prizes speed, efficiency, and instant results; God often works slowly, purposefully, and invisibly.
In Scripture, we find that waiting is not wasted time—it is sacred ground where God shapes our hearts and our character. But how do we endure the in-between seasons without giving in to frustration, fear, or hopelessness?
The Challenge of Waiting
Waiting exposes our deepest desires and reveals where we’ve placed our hope. It challenges our control and confronts our impatience. Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” The ache of “not yet” can feel like a heavy weight on the soul.
In seasons of waiting, our prayers can start to sound like David’s lament in Psalm 13:1:“How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?”
This honesty reminds us that God can handle our raw emotions. Waiting is not about pretending everything is fine; it’s about learning to trust God’s timing when we don’t understand His plans.
Biblical Examples of Waiting
The Bible is full of people who had to wait—and whose lives demonstrate that waiting is part of God’s design for His people.
Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years for the birth of Isaac after God promised them a son (Genesis 12:2; 21:1–3). Their waiting was marked by missteps and doubts, yet God’s promise stood firm.
Joseph waited over a decade between being sold into slavery and seeing God’s purpose fulfilled in Egypt (Genesis 37–50). The waiting refined his character and prepared him for leadership.
Hannah waited years for God to open her womb (1 Samuel 1). Her waiting drove her to fervent prayer and worship.
David was anointed king as a young man but waited many years, often in danger, before sitting on the throne (1 Samuel 16–2 Samuel 5).
The Israelites waited centuries for the coming of the Messiah, and now we wait for His return (Hebrews 9:28).
In every case, waiting was not a pause in God’s plan—it was part of His plan. God used the waiting to prepare His people for the blessing.
How God Used Waiting in My Life
When I was in junior high school my church youth group was painting the Sunday school rooms. Our youth pastor, Hugh, took us to Sears to get more paint. He was new in town, and his credit card had his old address on it and did not go through. While we waited and waited, I observed how patient and kind Hugh was to the salesclerk. I said to myself, I want what this man has. God used the experience of waiting to bring me to salvation.
Why God Calls Us to Wait
God’s call to wait is never arbitrary. He weaves waiting into our lives for specific purposes:
To Shape Our Character
Romans 5:3–4 teaches that “suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” Waiting strengthens the muscles of faith and endurance that we cannot develop in ease or speed.To Align Our Desires with His Will
In seasons of waiting, God often reshapes our desires so that what we long for is in step with His plans (Psalm 37:4).To Deepen Our Dependence on Him
Waiting forces us to acknowledge our limitations. It moves us from self-reliance to God-reliance (John 15:5).To Display His Glory in His Timing
God often waits until the situation seems impossible so that His intervention clearly shows His power (John 11:1–44; the raising of Lazarus).
The Right Way to Wait: Active, Not Passive
Biblical waiting is not passive resignation—it is active trust. Isaiah 40:31 tells us:
“But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
The Hebrew word for “wait” here carries the idea of eager expectation and confident hope. It is like a watchman scanning the horizon for the morning (Psalm 130:6).
Here are four biblical practices that help us wait well:
1. Keep Praying
In Luke 18:1, Jesus told His disciples a parable “to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.” Prayer is not wasted breath—it keeps us anchored to God’s presence and power in the waiting.
2. Stay in the Word
Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” In times of waiting, God’s promises become the light that helps us take the next step without knowing the whole road.
3. Practice Faith-Filled Obedience
Even while waiting for the big thing, keep obeying God in the small, daily things. As Galatians 6:9 reminds us: “Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
4. Remember His Faithfulness
Lamentations 3:22–23 says, “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” Looking back on how God has carried us before fuels trust that He will do it again.
The Dangers to Avoid While Waiting
When waiting stretches on, we face certain temptations:
Taking Matters into Our Own Hands
Like Abraham and Sarah with Hagar (Genesis 16), we may try to “help God out.” This usually leads to regret and complications.Complaining and Bitterness
The Israelites in the wilderness grumbled against God’s timing, which hardened their hearts and delayed their entry into the Promised Land (Numbers 14:22–23).Forgetting God’s Power
Long waits can cause us to shrink our expectations and forget that nothing is impossible for Him (Luke 1:37).
Recognizing these pitfalls helps us guard our hearts while we wait.
Jesus: Our Model in Waiting
Even Jesus experienced waiting. He waited 30 years before beginning His public ministry. He waited for the “hour” set by the Father before going to the cross (John 2:4; 7:6). In Gethsemane, He prayed and surrendered to God’s timing, even when it meant deep agony (Luke 22:42–44).
Hebrews 12:2 tells us that Jesus “for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” He could endure the waiting and suffering because His eyes were fixed on the promised joy. We are called to do the same.
Encouragement for the Weary Heart
If you are in a season of waiting, take comfort in knowing that God is not indifferent to your situation. Psalm 56:8 says He keeps our tears in His bottle—nothing is unnoticed. The Lord’s timing is always perfect, even if it feels painfully slow from our perspective.
2 Peter 3:8–9 reminds us:“With the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you.”
God’s delays are not denials—they are often His preparation.
Conclusion: Waiting Is Worship
Waiting from a biblical perspective is not wasted time—it’s a form of worship. It’s declaring through our actions and attitudes, “God, I trust You more than I trust my own timetable.”
When we wait in faith, we honor God’s wisdom and submit to His sovereignty. “Waiting is not merely something we have to do until we get what we want. It prepares our hearts for His blessings. It is a time of quiet growth and the unseen strengthening of our character. It conforms us into the image of Christ. And one day, the waiting will end—not just for the things we long for in this life, but for the greatest promise of all: the return of Christ.
Revelation 22:20 gives us the final word of the waiting church:“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”
Until that day, we can wait with hope, knowing the One we are waiting for is faithful. If you are in a season of waiting and biblical counseling I can help you! Please contact me at the link below.