It is always best to place our faith and trust in God. No matter what the situation may be, we can’t lose when the focus of our heart is set on Jesus.
As believer’s, we need to stay focused on the truth. We need to focus on Jesus, so we can remain faithful and full of hope, no matter what’s going on around us, or what is going on in your life. We need to remember God’s presence, power, and promises!
Remember, Peter let his focus fall away from Christ, and instead he focused on the wind, completely forgetting that Jesus was right there nearby. And how often do we do the same, by allowing our attention to be on the fear or temptation of this world, instead of on our Savior Jesus Christ?
Jesus is here with us, and sometimes we still find it hard to wait on him. He said He will never leave us nor forsake us.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you or forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6).
We have all experienced going through a waiting period. Waiting seems to be one of the Lord’s favorite sanctification tools.
Waiting on the Lord may be one of the most difficult parts of being a Christian. Not only does it require patience, but it also requires trust. It also requires for you to walk in peace. The devil has a strategy to take a believer down, but your peace is a weapon that will destroy the strategies of the enemy.
What is waiting? Waiting is trusting. Waiting is letting go and trusting God to guide and direct your life. Waiting is surrendering completely.
Waiting can come in all different forms. For example, you have experienced a time when you were waiting on the Lord for an answer to a prayer. You usually do not feel empowered while anticipating test scores or that job to call you back. Yet month after month, disappointment.
And then there is another level of waiting that is even more difficult to endure, such as waiting for test results, waiting for someone to come back home, or waiting for your healing to manifest.
Therefore, waiting on God is to keep believing, keep praying and keep waiting on the Lord in faith until He grants our desire whether physical, spiritual or any other. Where is your focus while waiting on the Lord?
Yet, there is something supernatural in a woman waiting, there’s power in a woman that waits on the Lord. In fact, biblical history has been significantly marked by them.
Abraham and Sarah, waited on the Lord for an impossible situation. Job waited patiently for the Lord. Sarah learned the value of waiting on God.
Commit yourself to the Lord; let Him deliver him; let Him rescue him, because He delights in him. – Psalm 22:8
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What Does It Mean to Wait on the Lord?
Before we go any further, we need to understand what the word wait really means. Webster’s Dictionary 1828 gives a few definitions that catch my attention. “To stay or rest in expectation; to stop or remain stationary, till the arrival of some person or event.” This definition hits home in my own situation. I cannot move forward until God provides the second half of my miracle. My position of waiting is not passive, it is staying put and resting in expectation. I do expect God to provide, and I can rest in the knowledge that His provision will be better than anything I try to force on my own.
You also may be waiting to see God’s deliverance or the fulfillment of His promise to you. If this is the case, be patient and willing to wait for His perfect timing. You won’t be disappointed. He knows exactly when you have learned all you need to know in order to take the next step forward in your walk of faith with Him.
Deliverance eventually came to David. And when you wait on the Lord, you will have the opportunity to see Him come through for you as well. There will be times of tremendous trial, but there will also be seasons of great joy filled to overflowing with God’s goodness and intimate love when you trust Him.
Perhaps the Lord has given you a promise through His Word. You’re ready to see it unfold, but it hasn’t happened yet. You have waited, but hope doesn’t seem to be on the horizon.
Remember that God’s timing is perfect. He knows what you need and when you need it. He knows that if we’re going to learn how to walk with Him in the daylight or the good times, we must also learn to trust Him in times of darkness.
God always has good reasons for making us wait. Waiting is a part of life and one of God’s tools for developing people. The Bible is full of stories of people having to wait on God, such as Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joseph, David, Daniel, Jesus, Paul and countless others.
Moses having to wait in the desert 40 years before God came to him. God used this time of waiting to transform his character. We know this because when he was a young man, he was brash and impatient. In his impetuousness he killed a man and hid the body. When his sin was made public, he ran for his life and was exiled to the desert. When he was given a second chance, he opted to do it God’s way and in God’s time.
At some point, each of us has waited for God’s promises to come. David may have wondered when the Lord would open the door to blessing. However, he never allowed his thoughts to turn to doubts. In fact, he praised God for the victory he knew would be his one day: “[God] delivered me from my strong enemy, and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me…He brought me forth also into a broad [or spacious] place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me” (Psalm 18:17,19).
The reason we get to read the stories of these great men and women is because they went through the difficulties of life with God. In the end, they enjoyed the process with God and the promise of God.
Remember, to wait on the Lord means to wait patiently, in faith, for God to fulfill His promises. Instead of taking things into our own hands, we trust in the goodness of the Lord.
- Keep your focus on God. Hebrews 12:3
- Study the Bible daily. Psalm 119:11, 2Timothy 2:15
- Pray daily. 1 Thessalonians 5:17
- Attend church regularly. Hebrews 10:25
- Learn from Christian friends. Proverbs 13:20
- Tell others about your faith in Jesus Christ. Mark 16:15
Who In the Bible Waited on the Lord?
Throughout the Bible, there are many stories of strong and faithful women who waited on the Lord. With their strong faith, the women of the Bible continue to teach us how to live authentic, faith-filled lives. And just like the women of old, gave us great examples. No matter what our circumstances are, we can find ourselves in their stories.
Sarah, the mother of nations, waited for a child.
In fact, so did Rebekah, Rachel, Samson’s nameless mother, Hannah, and Elizabeth – all barren women who were pregnant with a promise. While facing a fruitlessness that was beyond their control, the waiting was not a sign of God’s rejection. Rather, it was a sign that God was up to something bigger than what they were asking for. These women waited on God, and they saved nations.
What about you? What are you barren with and like the women in the Old Testament waiting on something bigger that what you were asking for.
“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isa. 40:31).
Esther, the queen, waited for deliverance.
When faced with the possible annihilation of her people, she did not run to the arms of the flesh. She did not turn her back on what she believed what God wanted her to do. Instead, she fasted before the Lord for three days before she approached the king with a perfect strategy.
She waited on God, she made history and saved a nation.
Anna, the prophetess, waited for the Messiah.
She lost her husband after only 8 years of marriage. She did not spend the rest of her life mourning over someone that was at rest. But, afterward, she dwelled in the temple of the Lord, spending the rest of her years in prayer and worship. She could have pursued to remarry or find other means to make a life for herself. Yet, her ultimate choice was to remain in the temple in anticipation of the Messiah.
She waited on God, and she saw Him.
Hannah”
Hannah exhibited an unwavering faith and reverence to the Lord in the midst of her turmoil. She could have turned her back on God and gotten angry, but she did not allow her grief to get the best of her. Instead, she brought her broken heart before the Lord and prayed fervently for many years.
After years of lifting up heartfelt cries to the Lord, God showered her with grace and with the answer she was hoping for. She became pregnant with a son named Samuel, who also was not just any child, but a very significant child in history. Samuel grew up to become the last of Israel’s judges, the first of Israel’s major prophets, and he anointed the first two kings of Israel, King Saul, and King David. Furthermore, Hannah bore several more children after Samuel.
Hannah’s story is a source of comfort to anyone who might be waiting for a first child or for more children. She went from barren to blessed, giving birth to six children total. Hannah was real with her feelings—she cried, and she prayed, she cried, and she prayed, she cried, and she prayed…until one day God blessed with the gift of being pregnant. She faithfully waited upon the Lord for His timing; she committed herself to prayer; she remained loyal to God and to her husband—and eventually her heart’s desire was fulfilled.
Each woman’s story is a little different, but there are some striking similarities among these three women:
- They were each God-fearing women who loved and served the Lord.
- They each remained loyal to their husbands.
- They each gave God the glory for the children that they bore.
- They each had firstborn sons who played significant roles in history.
- They each are remembered as strong women of faith in the present day.
There is power in a woman who waits on the Lord. Waiting on the Lord, actually requires a God-endowed strength to not be moved by pressure or fear.
Rather, waiting on the Lord means even in the season you are in, it is an honor knowing that the results, goes far beyond what you ask or think.\
Related: How to Wait Well When Everyone but You is Getting Blessed
How Do We Wait for The Lord?
1. We wait in faith
“Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” – (Hebrews 11:6)
Waiting in faith means firmly believing that God is going to fulfill his promises. He will deliver us from our struggles when the time is right. When that happens, we will rejoice in his goodness, but until then, we wait in faith.
2. When Waiting, Stay in Prayer
“Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart: wait, I “say, on the LORD.” – (Psalm 27:14)
When we pray, we are telling God that we trust him and his timing. We are asking him to help us be patient as we wait for his answer. And when we wait for God prayerfully, God will strengthen our hearts.
3. Giving thanks to God
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” – (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
When we are thankful, it shows that we trust God. We are thankful for what he has done, and we are confident that he is going to do even more. So even as we wait, we give thanks.
4. With perseverance even in challenging times
“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” – (Isaiah 40:3)
When we persevere, it shows that we are committed to waiting on the Lord. We are not going to give up, even when things are tough. We are going to keep trusting God because we know that he is faithful.
5. Wait in Gratitude
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” – (Galatians 6:9)
When we do good deeds, it shows that we are still serving God even as we wait. We know that he has called us to love others, and so we do good deeds in his name. We do not sit on the sidelines, refusing to serve God until he gives us what we want.
6. Be Still and Know that God is God
“Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth!” – (Psalm 46:10)
When we are still before the Lord, it shows that we know he is in control. The temptation is to take action ourselves and try to make things happen. Instead, we must trust him, even when things are uncertain. We rest in his presence, knowing that he will work everything out in his perfect timing.
7. Wait on God patiently
“But the LORD is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” – (2 Thessalonians 3:3)
When we are patient, it shows that we trust God’s character. We know that he is good and that he always keeps his promises. God will act on our behalf exactly at the right time. Not a moment too soon or late. God’s job is to act, our job is to trust him to do that.
8. Reading and Staying in God’s Word
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” – (Psalm 119:105)
When we read and study God’s word, it shows that we are waiting on the Lord. We are not trying to figure things out on our own. Instead, we rely on God’s wisdom. We look to his word for guidance and comfort. When we read and believe God’s word, it shows that we are putting our trust in him. And as we meditate on his word, our faith will grow stronger.
9. Repent of Sins
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – (1 John 1:9)
When we repent of our sin, it shows that we are turning away from things that will hurt us. We are turning back to God, and we are trusting him to forgive us. As we repent of our sin, God will work in our hearts and change us. And we will grow closer to him as we wait on the Lord.
10. Praise the Lord while we wait on him
“Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!” – (Psalm 150:6)
Praising the Lord while we wait shows that we are still trusting him even though we do not yet see his hand at work. We know that he is good, and we praise him for who he is. As we praise the Lord, our faith will grow stronger, and we will be able to wait on him more patiently.
Related: Waiting on the Lord: Finding the One Who is Worth the Wait
Bible Verses About Waiting on the Lord
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows” Psalm 23:4-5.
“Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it: ‘I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them’” Isaiah 42:5-9.
“From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him” Isaiah 64:4.
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also” John 14:1-3.
“For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience”
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) God always keeps His promises. He is patient with us, and he loves us.
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
Waiting On God Quotes
Use these waiting on God quotes to encourage yourself during your time of waiting.
“Father, teach us all how to wait.”
― Andrew Murray,
Waiting also helps us learn the vital lesson that just because a dream is delayed does not mean it is denied. When we continue to hope patiently and place our trust in God and in His schedule — not ours — we begin to gain the type of long-range perspective that allows us to have peaceful souls, even when the storms of life are raging about us.
“A soul cannot seek close fellowship with God or attain the abiding consciousness of waiting on Him all day, without a very honest and entire surrender to all His will.”
― Andrew Murray,
Spiritual transformation does not take place when we get what we want. It takes place while we are waiting. It is forged in us while we are waiting, hoping, and trusting, even though we have yet to receive for what we long. Spiritual transformation happens in the waiting room.
“Everything happens for a reason. Wait on God and trust in Him. He wants the best for us. He wants to take us from glory to glory, and from victory to victory.”
― Germany Kent
“God loves you so much that he is willing to hold something from you for the perfect time!”
― Rachel Hamilton
“Keep the faith. The vision is always for the appointed time. Be patient, prayerful and wait for the fulfillment of your visions.”
― Lailah Gifty Akita
“One reason many people never see God working in their lives is because they never hang in long enough for God to show his power.”
― Wayne Stiles, Waiting on God: What to Do When God Does Nothing
“I try to remember that walking in the will of God might mean waiting as much as it might mean moving forward.”
― Tessa Afshar, Harvest of Gold
Related: Wait on the Lord Journal
Benefits of Waiting on God
It’s not easy waiting on God; sometimes it really gets hard. But have you ever thought about all the wonderful benefits to waiting upon the Lord? Let’s explore the reasons why we wait patiently on God.
While waiting, we grow stronger in our faith!
The Psalmist writes (in 27:14) to “be strong.” And I believe that, to be strong in our waiting, we need faith. So, our first benefit of waiting on the Lord, is that we have an opportunity to stretch our faith.
Hebrews 11:1 says that “faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see,” and in 11:6 it adds “without faith it is impossible to please God”
Waiting on the Lord Renewed Your strength
“But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength…”
When you wait on the Lord, your strength is renewed. Unlike the idea that waiting is stressful and unproductive, the Bible says you are drawing and building strength.
Why does God ask us to wait? Waiting prepares your heart. Even when your mind feels ready for a task, your heart might not be there yet. Waiting allows God time to feel the gap between your head and your heart.
Waiting on God helps us to learn patience. Helps us live an overcoming Christian Life:
Patience in waiting for small things leads to having patience in the bigger things. If we can’t wait for God to do a small thing, we certainly can’t wait for something bigger.
Waiting has a way of bringing out the best and worst in people.
Waiting on God renews our mind, physical, spiritual, and emotional being.
Waiting on God helps us to Focus on the purpose and direction for our life according to God’s will.
Waiting on God creates humility. It helps smooth out our rough edges that need to be dealt with.
Waiting on God can build hope and anticipation.
Waiting on God stirs up our passion, desire, and intimacy with Him.
God is just as interested in the process, in the time of waiting and in the journey as He is in the destination. If it were not so, all the biblical stories and passages would only include the happy parts and not the ugliness in the times of waiting. We may not always understand why we have to wait, but the good news is that God never asks us to wait without Him.
Instead of hating the time of wait, maybe we could learn to appreciate it for what it can create in our lives. Sure, we can feel the very real hurt of longing, but we can also turn that into praise while we wait. We have no idea of the burdens or blessings to come, but while we wait, God is at work.
This is the hope in waiting – our God is not inactive, but always working out His perfect plans in an imperfect world. We can trust God in hard times. God uses the time of wait to change us, prepare us, mold us, and empower us for the next step in our journey.
Prayer
Father, In the Name of Jesus, I surrender to You and Your perfect Will. Give me patience so that I may set aside my own ideas and plans, submitting only to You. May I learn to wait on You, dear Lord, and act only as You command. I love You, my God. Jesus, I trust in You.
In Jesus Name. Amen
FREE PRINTABLES
I pray that this is a place where you can gain encouragement in your prayer life and in your relationship with God! Here you will find a free printable, “Learning How to Wait on the Lord” that you can download by clicking on the highlighted links.
You are welcome to use this printable for personal use or in small group Bible studies.
Have a wonderful day! Enjoy!
