Life often comes with waiting—waiting for dreams to be fulfilled, for answers to prayers, for things to fall into place. And in the waiting, our faith is tested. Sometimes, it feels like the more faithful we are, the longer the wait. This tension between our faithfulness and God’s apparent delay is something I’ve heard many share in conversations recently. It’s a tough place to be. But here’s the truth: Just because you are being faithful doesn’t mean God is going to act fast.
The Reality of Waiting
I know this may sound like a tough pill to swallow. In a world where instant gratification is often the norm, it can be hard to reconcile our deep commitment to God with the fact that He doesn’t always move at the pace we expect. The good news is that God’s timing is always perfect—even when it doesn’t feel like it. In fact, waiting is often where our deepest lessons of faith are learned.
God’s Ways Are Higher Than Our Ways
In Isaiah 55:8-9, God reminds us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
When we’re waiting, it’s easy to assume that God’s delay means He’s forgotten about us or doesn’t care. But God’s perspective is infinitely broader than ours. His ways and His timing are so much higher than we can comprehend. He sees the bigger picture—our journey, our growth, our future—and sometimes the wait is necessary for us to align with His plans.
Think of a seed planted in the ground. For a while, nothing happens above the surface. But beneath the soil, something is happening. The seed is taking root. It’s becoming stronger. It's preparing for the right moment to break through. God is doing something in us, even in the waiting, even when we can’t see it.
The Call to Patience
James 5:7-8 says, “Be patient then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.”
Patience isn’t just about sitting still—it’s about standing firm in the hope that God is working, even when we don’t see the results yet. It’s easy to get discouraged in the waiting. But waiting isn’t passive. It’s an active choice to trust God, to keep serving, to keep believing, and to keep praying.
As we wait, we are being prepared. We are being strengthened. We are being refined. It’s in the waiting that we learn to trust not just in God’s actions but in His character. We learn that He is faithful, that He is trustworthy, and that His love for us doesn’t depend on the speed of our circumstances.
Waiting with Strength and Hope
Psalm 27:14 says, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
Waiting isn’t easy, but it’s a time to draw strength from God. It’s a time to be honest about our fears and doubts, but also to remind ourselves of God’s faithfulness in the past. We wait with hope because we know that God’s promises are sure. And in the waiting, we become stronger.
It’s in the moments when we feel like giving up that God invites us to lean into His strength. He doesn’t ask us to wait alone. He is with us, strengthening us along the way. And He is worth the wait.
Faithfulness in the Waiting
The Bible gives us countless examples of people who waited. Abraham waited for a child. Moses waited to lead the people out of Egypt. David waited to become king. Jesus’ disciples waited for the resurrection. And through all these waiting periods, God was at work. He was shaping them, preparing them, and fulfilling His promises.
And so, as we wait, we follow their example. We stay faithful. We keep trusting. We keep hoping. And we keep believing that God will fulfill His promises in His perfect time. Just because we don’t see immediate results doesn’t mean God isn’t working. Sometimes, the waiting is the most important part of the journey.
Conclusion: Trusting the Wait
I know it’s hard to wait. I’ve been there too. But let’s choose to wait with hope. Let’s trust that God is not only working in the circumstances but also in us. Just because we’re being faithful doesn’t mean God will act fast, but He will act at the right time.
So today, let’s surrender the timeline to God. Let’s commit to being faithful in the waiting, knowing that He’s always with us, and that His plans for us are worth the wait.
Let’s Pray:
Father, thank You for Your perfect timing. Help us to trust You in the waiting seasons of life. Strengthen our faith and our patience. Teach us to wait with hope and to trust that You are working, even when we can’t see it. May we be faithful, just as You are faithful, and may our hearts remain hopeful as we wait for Your perfect plan to unfold. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
I hope this message encourages you today. Let’s continue to be faithful in the waiting, trusting that God’s timing is always worth the wait!