When Waiting Feels Like Wasting: Trusting God in Seasons of Waiting

Waiting...

Waiting. It’s one of the hardest things we do as believers, isn’t it? Whether we’re waiting for a job opportunity, waiting for healing, or waiting for a season of life to shift, the time spent in anticipation can feel like time wasted. We often have the sense that we're on the brink of something significant, yet it seems as though God’s timing is moving at a pace that doesn’t align with our own. But what if the season of waiting is not wasted time at all? What if, instead, it’s a powerful season of preparation and growth?

In this post, we’ll dive into the concept of waiting through a biblical lens, exploring how waiting is not a passive process but an active one. And as we reflect on stories like that of Abraham and Sarah, we’ll discover how trusting in God’s timing can strengthen our faith and help us embrace the waiting seasons in our lives.

The Struggle of Waiting

Let’s be honest—waiting is hard. When we know that God has placed a calling on our lives, we often feel the pressure to move forward and take action. But sometimes, it feels as if nothing is happening. We find ourselves in seasons where God’s voice seems quieter, or where the promises we’ve been holding onto seem to be on pause. We might wonder, “Is this time being wasted?” or “Why is God taking so long?”

I imagine Abraham and Sarah must have felt similarly during their long wait for a child. In Genesis 12, God promises Abraham that he will become the father of many nations. Yet, year after year, Sarah’s womb remains closed. Decade after decade, the promise remains unfulfilled. Can you imagine the weariness that must have settled in their hearts? The anticipation, the questions, the doubts—they must have wondered if they had misunderstood God’s plan altogether.

Waiting: An Active Process of Growth

What Abraham and Sarah didn’t know in those long years of waiting was that God was actively working on them during that time. Their faith was being tested, refined, and strengthened. God wasn’t simply putting their lives on hold—He was preparing them for the promise that was to come. And in the process, they were learning to trust Him more deeply.

Waiting, from a biblical perspective, is never just about sitting idly by. Instead, it is an active process. When we wait on God, we allow Him to shape us, refine us, and build our trust in His timing and goodness. As we reflect on Abraham and Sarah, we can see that their waiting wasn’t wasted—it was a time of deepening faith. Even when they faltered and tried to take matters into their own hands, God’s plan remained perfect, and His timing never failed.

Patience: A Gift That Strengthens Our Faith

One of the most powerful aspects of waiting is how it teaches us patience. Patience isn’t something that comes naturally to most of us. We live in a world that values instant gratification, where everything is just a click or swipe away. But waiting teaches us a different kind of patience—a patience rooted in trust. When we are forced to wait, we are given the opportunity to lean into God’s promises and trust that He is working, even when we can’t see the full picture.

In James 5:7, we are told, “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.” This analogy of the farmer waiting for his crops to grow teaches us that waiting is a necessary part of the process. Just as a farmer trusts that his crops will eventually bear fruit, we must trust that God’s timing will bear fruit in our lives as well.

Trusting God’s Perfect Timing

Ultimately, the key to thriving in seasons of waiting is trusting God’s timing. While we may feel the urge to rush ahead or take matters into our own hands, it’s important to remember that God sees the bigger picture. He knows what we need and when we need it. His delays are not denials, but rather opportunities for us to grow in faith and character.

As we wait, we can take comfort in the knowledge that God is not wasting our time. He is preparing us, refining us, and setting the stage for something far greater than we can imagine. In the waiting, He is building something beautiful, something that will bring Him glory and fulfill His perfect plan for our lives.

Reflecting on Your Own Season of Waiting

If you find yourself in a season of waiting, I encourage you to reflect on these truths:

• Trust that waiting is not wasted time. God is working even when we can’t see it. Take time to reflect on how He may be preparing you for what’s to come.

• Embrace the process of growth. Use this season as an opportunity to deepen your relationship with God and strengthen your faith in His promises.

• Remember that God’s timing is perfect. While we may feel impatient, we can trust that He is orchestrating everything in His perfect time.

Waiting may feel like a waste, but when we look at it through the lens of faith, we realize that it is anything but. It is a season where God is working in us, preparing us, and setting us up for His perfect plan. So, instead of seeing this time as a pause, let’s embrace it as a season of active waiting, trusting that God’s timing will always be worth the wait.

Actively Waiting,

M.