The Beauty of Waiting on God's Timing

Waiting patiently has got to be one of the hardest things we have to face. In a time in history when everything is done almost in an instant, waiting can be very challenging. It seems we are always in a rush from one place to the next, we have microwave meals, fast food, fast cars, and even faster Internet. Yet, we are more impatient than we ever have been. 

I don't know about you, but I've been praying for some things for not just years, but decades. Those prayers still seem to go unanswered and it drains the strength from me, but I need to be patient and wait on his timing and rely on his strength to get me through. 

For now I will keep praying. 

The Beauty of Waiting on God’s Timing

You are not reading this by accident. God’s timing is one of the hardest lessons to accept, yet one of the most rewarding truths to live out.

We see this beautifully in the life of David. Anointed as a young boy to be the future king of Israel (1 Samuel 16:13), David waited nearly twenty years before stepping into his calling. That long gap wasn’t wasted time—it was God’s appointed time of preparation.

During those years, David learned humility as a shepherd, courage as a warrior, and reliance on God in the wilderness. He faced rejection, betrayal, and even threats on his life. Yet through it all, God was shaping his heart, refining his character, and preparing him to lead His people. David’s delay wasn’t punishment—it was preparation.

Why Does God Make Us Wait?

1. To Develop Our Character

Waiting refines us. It’s in the waiting room of life that God removes pride, impatience, and fear. He replaces them with faith, humility, and perseverance. David couldn’t be king with a shepherd’s mindset; he needed to be transformed into a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22).

> “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” (James 1:2–3)

2. To Align Circumstances

God’s plan doesn’t just involve you—it involves people, nations, and circumstances you may not even see. Just as He had to dethrone Saul and align Israel for David, He may be aligning situations in your life that are far bigger than you can imagine.

> “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

3. To Strengthen Our Faith

Waiting forces us to trust what we cannot see. Every day David waited for his promise to come true, he had to trust that God had not forgotten him. Faith grows strongest in the soil of uncertainty.

> “But they who wait for 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.” (Isaiah 40:31)

4. To Protect Us

Sometimes, what we think we’re ready for would actually harm us if it came too soon. A blessing given at the wrong time can become a burden. God, in His love, withholds until we are truly ready.

> “The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:25–26)

How to Wait Well

Waiting doesn’t mean doing nothing. David didn’t sit idle—he served faithfully where he was, whether watching sheep, playing music for Saul, or leading soldiers into battle. While you wait, serve where God has planted you. Be faithful in the little things, and trust that they are preparing you for the greater things.

> “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” (Colossians 3:23)

Waiting well also means keeping your eyes on God rather than your circumstances. When the wait feels long, remind yourself: delay is not denial. God is not slow in keeping His promises.

> “For the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.” (Habakkuk 2:3)

A Word for Your Season

If you’re in a season of waiting, remember this: God has not forgotten you. The silence is not abandonment. The delay is not rejection. The wait is sacred ground where God is writing a story far greater than you could dream.

> “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14)

It’s not just a promise that His plan will happen—it’s already unfolding.

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Reflection Questions

1. What is God teaching you about yourself during this season of waiting?

2. How can you shift your perspective from frustration to preparation?

3. In what small ways can you serve faithfully right now while trusting God for the bigger picture?

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A Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding me that Your timing is perfect. Even when I cannot see what You are doing, help me to trust that You are working all things together for my good and Your glory (Romans 8:28). Teach me to wait with patience, faith, and hope. Prepare my heart for what You have prepared for me, and let me serve faithfully while I wait. Amen.