“Waiting Isn’t Wasted: Trusting God’s Timing, Learning God’s Rhythm”
I don’t know about you, but I hate waiting. Whether it’s waiting for a light to turn green, waiting for the microwave to finish, waiting to open gifts on Christmas morning, waiting for my kids to do something I asked them to do—or even waiting to use the bathroom!
Have you ever found yourself waiting for what feels like forever? Maybe you’ve been waiting to heal from major surgery. Waiting for a job or a promotion. Waiting for word that a loved one is okay. Waiting for a spouse, a child, or a broken relationship to heal. Maybe you’re waiting on a decision that will change the next season of your life. Sometimes waiting stirs fear and doubt. Sometimes it makes us lose hope.
I’ve been in those seasons myself—the restlessness, the urge to grab the reins and make something happen. But here’s what I’ve learned: waiting is not wasted. What if the season you’re in right now is actually preparation for what’s to come?
The Bible is full of people who had to wait:
Abram waited 25 years for the promise of a son.
Joseph waited 13 years in prison.
The Israelites waited 40 years to enter the promised land.
David waited 10 years to be anointed king.
Noah waited 120 years for the flood.
Jonah waited 3 days in the belly of a whale.
Jesus waited 30 years before beginning His ministry.
The prodigal son’s father waited years for his son to return home.
Every one of them had a promise or calling from God, yet still had to wait.
During one such time, God gave the prophet Habakkuk this word:
“This vision is for a future time.
It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled.
If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place.
It will not be delayed.” — Habakkuk 2:3
God’s promises never fail. What looks like a delay to us is perfect timing to Him. We measure time in minutes and days; God measures it in years, generations, and eternity. Waiting is one of the ways He teaches us trust.
Here are three truths that help me when I’m in a season of waiting:
Waiting Is Never a Waste of Time
Our culture loves efficiency and speed. But God’s timing rarely aligns with ours. His plans aren’t being formed—they’re unfolding. When you feel that tension between wanting something now and having to wait, remember: you are exactly where God wants you to be. He’s not wasting your time.
Waiting Prepares or Redirects You
Sometimes God needs to prepare us for what’s ahead. Waiting is the time when He does His work in our heart and soul. It’s a chance to ask:
“What do You need to teach me for the next season?”
“How do You want to redirect my path?”
Waiting is like the weight room—it builds endurance, character, and strength for the journey ahead.
Waiting Aligns Us with God’s Rhythm
If rushing and striving is your pace, it likely produces frustration, impatience, and even unkindness. But God’s rhythm is joy, peace, and life-giving grace.
Recently, I realized this in a moment of frustration. I was rushing, already impatient, and ready to lose my temper. But I stopped, took a breath, and asked God to give me His perspective. Immediately, my pace slowed, and I let Him lead the situation instead of me trying to control it. The outcome was far better than if I had kept pushing ahead at my frenetic speed.
Waiting slows us down enough to realign with Him. The goal isn’t just arriving at the destination—it’s walking with God in the journey.
So maybe you’re in a season of waiting right now. My prayer is that you won’t see it as wasted time, but as God’s preparation for something greater than you could ask or imagine. Waiting is where trust grows. Waiting is where God’s timing unfolds. Waiting is where we learn to live, to learn, and—through it all—to lead.
Consider: What are you waiting on today? Take a moment to ask God what He may be preparing in you through this season.
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