Waiting on God’s timing is hard—there’s no sugarcoating it.
When you’re praying, hoping, and believing for something, it’s easy to feel like God’s taking too long. You’re ready for the next step, but everything feels stuck.
Sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone.
The good news is that God’s timing is always perfect, even when it doesn’t feel like it.
While it’s hard to see the blessing in waiting, there’s purpose in the pause.
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God is Preparing You for Something Greater
Have you ever felt like you were ready for something, but it didn’t happen when you expected it to? That’s because God was preparing you behind the scenes.
Think about biblical figures like Joseph, David, or Esther. Every single one of them went through a season of preparation before they stepped into their calling.
Joseph had dreams of leadership, but he spent years in prison before stepping into his role as Pharaoh’s right-hand man.
David was anointed king as a young boy, but he spent years tending sheep and running from King Saul before he sat on the throne.
Esther’s journey to becoming queen wasn’t immediate—she went through a season of preparation and obedience.
Your waiting season isn’t punishment; it’s preparation. God sees the bigger picture, and He’s working on something greater for you.
Maybe He’s building your character, growing your patience, or sharpening your skills.
Sometimes, He’s even working on the hearts of the people you’ll encounter later.
Instead of feeling frustrated in your waiting season, try asking, “Lord, what are you preparing me for?”
Look for opportunities to grow, develop new skills, or strengthen your faith. Preparation always comes before promotion.
God is Protecting You From What You’re Not Ready For
Sometimes, the delay isn’t about you being ready—it’s about God protecting you from something you can’t see.
We’ve all been there. You’re desperate for something, and you’re convinced it’s a “good thing,” but in hindsight, you’re thankful God didn’t let it happen.
Maybe you’ve prayed for a specific job, relationship, or opportunity that seemed perfect, but later you realized it wasn’t as “perfect” as it seemed.
It’s a reminder that God’s “no” is often a “not yet” or “I have something better for you.”
Think about a toddler reaching for a hot stove. From the child’s perspective, the parent’s “no” feels unfair.
But from the parent’s perspective, that “no” is protection. God’s timing works the same way. What you think is a delay might actually be a shield.
When God’s “no” or “not yet” shows up, it’s hard not to feel disappointed.
But instead of focusing on the disappointment, try shifting your focus. Ask, “What might God be protecting me from?”
God is Building Your Faith and Trust in Him
Here’s the truth—faith is built in the waiting. When everything happens on your schedule, you don’t need faith.
But when you’re praying, waiting, and hoping for something only God can do, your faith has no choice but to grow.
Look at Abraham. God promised him a child, but it didn’t happen right away.
Abraham had to trust God’s promise for 25 years before Isaac was born.
Waiting didn’t mean that God’s promise wasn’t true—it meant that Abraham’s faith had to grow so he could handle the promise.
Sometimes, God’s timing is about growing your trust muscles.
When you’re waiting on healing, financial provision, a job, or clarity, every single day that you keep trusting God is a day your faith gets stronger.
Each day you choose faith over doubt, you’re telling God, “I trust You more than I trust my timeline.”
Waiting seasons are faith-building seasons. They force you to rely on God, not your own understanding.
And when you’re on the other side of the wait, you’ll be able to look back and say, “Look what God did.”
Your faith will be stronger for the next season of waiting.
What To Do While You Wait
If you’re in a waiting season right now, it’s easy to feel restless, anxious, or even forgotten.
But here’s a reminder: God sees you. He hasn’t forgotten you.
He’s working behind the scenes, preparing you, protecting you, and growing your faith.
While you wait, here are 3 things you can do:
- Pray Daily: Ask God to show you what He’s teaching you in this season.
- Get in the Word: Find strength in scriptures about waiting (like Isaiah 40:31 and Lamentations 3:25-26).
- Serve Others: Sometimes, serving others is the best way to take the focus off your waiting and put it back on God’s purpose.
Looking for some additional resources for studying the Bible? Here is an extensive library of (free) monthly topical Bible reading plans.
Reflection
Waiting on God’s timing isn’t easy, but it’s always worth it. The wait isn’t wasted time—it’s purposeful, intentional, and always for your good.
God is preparing you, protecting you, and growing your faith in ways you can’t always see.
If you’re in a waiting season right now, hold on. Stay faithful.
God’s timing is perfect, and His plans are far better than anything we could come up with on our own.
- What has God been teaching you during your current waiting season?
- What’s one area of your life where you’re struggling to trust God’s timing?
- Can you think of a past situation where God’s timing ended up being better than your own?
- How can you actively strengthen your faith while you’re waiting?
- Which of the 3 reasons for waiting on God’s timing resonates most with you, and why?
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