Waiting Well: Trusting God’s Timing

Waiting can feel overwhelming when we’re in a hurry. We’ve all felt the frustration of wanting something and waiting what feels like forever. Sometimes it seems all we do is wait. I’ve felt that too. Waiting is hard in a world of quick fixes. We want control, even if it’s just an illusion, but waiting with trust in God’s timing makes it more rewarding. Waiting is like baking bread. You mix, knead, and have to wait a few hours for the dough to rise. It’s tempting to check too soon, but if you do, the bread won’t be perfect. God’s timing works the same way: His process ensures the outcome is just right, lasting, and full of blessings. 

One of the important lessons I’ve learned is to nurture my patience. Many experiences have strengthened my ability to wait patiently, and perseverance has become a vital tool. Yes, no one likes to wait. Waiting can produce anxiety, frustration, and fatigue. We want to control everything, which makes waiting difficult. However, biblically, waiting is defined as trusting that something favorable will happen. It is a matter of hoping, trusting, and being still until God acts. Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”

Our fast-paced world makes waiting even harder. Technology and instant gratification have made us less patient and more prone to frustration. Waiting on God is not passive; it does not mean sitting doing nothing. It means actively trusting Him, doing what we can, and having confidence that things will work. Waiting is an act of faith, self-control, and obedience; it is resisting the temptation to rush, seeking God continually, and walking by faith while accepting His will and timing.

When we lack patience, we often make mistakes. Instead of trusting God, we rely on ourselves, acting impulsively, which usually leads to trouble. Waiting also reveals what’s inside us, our motives, intentions, and character. That’s why patience is so important: it teaches trust, perseverance, and reliance on God’s wisdom.

Tips for What We Can Do While Waiting on God’s Timing

1.   Pray Regularly – Talk to God about your hopes, concerns, and gratitude.

2.   Study the Bible – Find encouragement and wisdom in God’s Word.

3.   Serve Others – Focus on helping and loving others while you wait.

4.   Grow Your Skills – Learn, practice, or improve talents and gifts.

5.   Reflect and Journal – Record prayers, lessons, and progress in your waiting journey.

6.   Trust and Rest – Remind yourself daily that God’s timing is perfect and He is working behind the scenes.

7.   Encourage Others – Share your hope and patience with friends or family who are waiting too.

Here are some Bible verses that bring hope while we wait:

• Isaiah 40:31 – “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.”

• Romans 12:12 – “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”

• Romans 8:25 – “But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

• 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 – “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day… So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

• James 1:2-4 – “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, knowing that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. Let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Remember, waiting on God is always rewarding, and you value and appreciate the outcome more. Blessings that come too quickly often do not last. But what comes in God’s perfect timing is lasting and abundant. Impulsive actions usually lead to temporary gains, but waiting produces long-lasting blessings. If you are in a waiting time, rejoice because you are about to enjoy the sweet reward of waiting in God’s timing.