We live in a world that doesn’t like to wait. Fast food, instant downloads, one-day delivery, you name it, we want it now. And honestly, I’m no different. I like things quick and predictable. Waiting feels like being stuck in traffic when I have somewhere important to be. Frustrating, uncomfortable, and sometimes even pointless.
However, God doesn’t work on our timetable. And as I’ve learned in my own life, the waiting seasons are often the very places where He shapes us the most. Scripture has a lot to say about patience and trust, and if we lean into those truths, waiting can become less of a burden and more of a blessing. Here are a few things about patience that God wants us to know and learn.
1. God’s Timing Is Perfect
One of the hardest lessons I’ve had to accept is that my timeline and God’s timeline rarely match. I remember praying for an opportunity I thought I was ready for years ago. When it didn’t come, I felt discouraged, even forgotten. But looking back now, I see that I wasn’t ready then. God had work to do in me first.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 reminds us: “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” Not my time. Not your time. His time. And His timing is always better than what we could orchestrate ourselves.
2. Waiting Builds Strength, Not Weakness
Waiting often feels passive, but biblically, it’s active. Isaiah 40:31 says: “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.”
That verse flips waiting upside down. Instead of draining us, waiting on God actually strengthens us. It’s not about twiddling our thumbs—it’s about leaning into prayer, worship, and trust while God works behind the scenes.
For me, this has looked like journaling my prayers during seasons of uncertainty. It reminds me that God is still at work, even if I can’t see it yet.
3. Patience Is Part of Our Spiritual Growth
Paul lists patience as a fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. That means waiting isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a character-building process.
Think about Joseph. He had big dreams as a teenager, but he had to endure betrayal, slavery, and prison before stepping into his God-given destiny (Genesis 37–41). Waiting wasn’t wasted time for Joseph; it was preparation.
The same is true for us. Every delay, every closed door, every “not yet” can be God’s way of shaping our faith and deepening our dependence on Him.
4. Waiting Tests Our Trust
To be honest, waiting exposes what we really believe about God. Do I trust that He’s good even when life feels stuck? Do I believe He’s working for my good when things don’t move as quickly as I’d like?
Psalm 27:14 says: “Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!”
That double reminder to wait tells me this isn’t easy. Courage is required. Trust is required. But when I look back on my own waiting seasons, I can honestly say they were also seasons where I grew closest to God, because I had nothing else to cling to but Him.
5. Waiting Always Has Purpose
God doesn’t waste time. God does not waste anything. Even the waiting seasons are part of His plan. Romans 8:28 assures us: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
While I am waiting for clarity about my career direction, it feels like time is running out. But I know that it is in the “in-between,” God is building resilience, humility, and faith in me. I know that in hindsight, perhaps a few years down the line, I will see how the lessons I am learning now are equipping me for the opportunities He will eventually open up for me.
Waiting may feel like a pause, but it’s really preparation.
Final Thoughts
In a fast-paced world, waiting feels countercultural. But waiting on God is never wasted. It teaches us trust, shapes our character, and aligns us with His perfect timing.
So, if you’re in a waiting season today, take heart. God hasn’t forgotten you. He’s working in ways you can’t yet see. And one day, you’ll look back and see that the waiting was worth it.
Question: What’s something you’re waiting on God for right now? How are you finding patience in the middle of it? Share your thoughts in the comments. I’d love to hear your story.
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Stay blessed.
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