Joy in the Waiting
Waiting is one of the hardest parts of the Christian journey. Whether it’s waiting for a breakthrough, a relationship, a healing, or an answered prayer, seasons of waiting can feel like divine silence—as though God is absent or withholding something good.
But what if the waiting isn’t a punishment? What if the waiting is actually the blessing?
Scripture teaches us that waiting on the Lord is not wasted time—it’s sacred time. It’s where God refines our faith, teaches us trust, and deepens our joy.
When we learn to embrace the waiting, we stop seeing it as a delay and start seeing it as divine preparation.
The World Says “Now,” but God Says “Wait”
We live in a culture of instant gratification. Everything is on demand—food, entertainment, and even relationships. Waiting feels unnatural. Yet, over and over again, Scripture shows us that God does His greatest work in seasons of waiting.
Isaiah 40:31 reminds us, "But those who wait on 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."
The word “wait” in Hebrew (qavah) doesn’t just mean to sit idly—it means to hope with expectation, to be bound together with God. Waiting on God isn’t passive; it’s an active trust in His perfect timing.
God’s delays are not His denials—they are His protection.
Waiting Produces Deep, Unshakable Joy
It’s easy to be joyful when life is going according to plan. But the real test of faith is finding joy in the waiting—when nothing seems to be happening.
James 1:2-4 teaches us to "Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
I always think about the farmer and the seed—a beautiful picture of waiting with purpose. The farmer does not plant a seed today and expect a harvest tomorrow.
He diligently prepares the soil, plants in faith, and tends to the unseen growth beneath the surface. Day after day, he waters, weeds, and nurtures the land, even though nothing visible happens at first.
But the farmer does not despair. He does not dig up the seed in frustration, demanding to see progress. He trusts the process.
And then—at the appointed time, in a season he did not choose but one that was always destined—the harvest comes.
Seemingly overnight, the fields that once looked barren burst forth with abundance. He stands in awe, not because he made it grow, but because something greater was at work all along.
This is what waiting in faith looks like.
You may not see it yet, but beneath the surface, God is cultivating something deep, something strong, something fruitful.
When the season of fulfillment arrives, you will stand amazed—not at your own effort, but at what God was producing in the quiet, mundane, everyday moments of trust.
Biblical Examples of Waiting on God
I love searching the Bible for stories and accounts of people who have gone before me and experienced the same thing I’m going through. It helps strengthen my faith and serves as a blueprint of how am to behave in this same season.
- Abraham & Sarah (Genesis 21:1-7) – They waited 25 years for the fulfillment of God's promise of a son. Their waiting produced a testimony of God’s faithfulness.
- Joseph (Genesis 37-50)– He endured years of hardship and betrayal before stepping into his God-given destiny.
- David (1 Samuel 16-2 Samuel 5) – Anointed as king as a teenager, he waited; over a decade before taking the throne.
- Jesus (Luke 3:23) – Even the Son of God waited—He spent 30 years preparing before starting His public ministry.
Their waiting wasn’t empty—it was preparing them for greater joy and greater purpose.
Cultivating Joy While You Wait
If waiting is a gift, we must learn to receive it with joy instead of frustration. Here are three biblical ways to embrace joy in the waiting:
1. Shift Your Focus from the Outcome to the One Who Holds It
We often obsess over when and how our prayers will be answered. But true joy isn’t in getting what we want—it’s in knowing the One Who is in control.
Paul teaches us in Philippians 4:4-7 to, "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Joy is not found in certainty about the future—it’s found in the presence of God in the here and now.
We should change our petition from “When Lord?” to “What are You trying to teach me Lord?”
2. Practice Gratitude Even Before the Answer Comes
Gratitude shifts our perspective from what we lack to what we already have. The enemy wants you to focus on what’s missing—but God wants you to focus on His daily provision.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 has always been a guiding force in my spiritual journey. It always reminds what God is asking from me right now, even when I don’t have all the details figured out:
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
Even in the waiting, there is so much to be grateful for.
The breath in your lungs, the people around you, the lessons God is teaching you—joy grows when we cultivate gratitude.
Try keeping a gratitude journal, where each day you write down 3 new things you are thankful for. You will be amazed how many things really exist.
3. Anchor Yourself in the Promises of God
God’s timing may be mysterious, but His promises are certain. When we learn to wait well, God grants greater strength and renewal to our resolve.
"Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!" Psalm 27:14
When doubt creeps in, we need to remind ourselves of what God has already said:
Romans 8:28: "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."
Know that God is never late, never absent, and never indifferent to your prayers.
He is working all things together for your good—even in the waiting.
Your Waiting Is Not Wasted
Waiting is one of the most powerful tools God uses to shape us and transform us from the inside out. It’s where our faith is strengthened, our hearts are purified, and our joy is refined.
You are not being forgotten. You are being prepared.
Whatever you’re waiting for today, remember this:
- God is never withholding—He is always providing.
- What feels like delay is actually divine alignment.
- Your waiting season is not a punishment; it’s a process.
- Joy isn’t found in the outcome—it’s found in the presence of the One Who is already with you.
So, choose joy. Not because you have all the answers, but because you trust the One Who does.
Joy in the waiting isn’t about faking happiness—it’s about resting in the certainty that God is working beneath the surface, even when you can’t see it.
Every trial, every delay, every unanswered prayer is not a detour—it’s an invitation. An invitation to draw closer, trust deeper, and rejoice in knowing that His plans for you are always good.
You are not forgotten. You are not behind. You are being prepared.
And when the waiting turns into fulfillment, when the harvest finally comes, you will stand in awe—not just at what God has done, but at how He has transformed you in the process.
So, I encourage you to rejoice—not in what is seen, but in what is promised.