How to Find Rest, Courage, and Purpose in the Waiting.
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re waiting for something – maybe you’re waiting for a prayer to be answered, a door to open, a relationship to be healed, or even something as simple as a phone call.
You might feel like you’re stuck while life moves on for everyone else around you. Maybe you even find yourself asking, “God, do you see me? Do you hear me? Are you even there?”
You’re not alone. I’ve lived in those in-between places too – sometimes with hope and often with a heart full of questions. There have been times in my own life when I wondered if God had forgotten about me, going through each day with a silent ache inside.
During those times, I’ve taken comfort in the fact that many of the greatest people in the Bible have experienced exactly the same thing! And if waiting and feeling stuck are part of so many biblical stories, maybe there’s something sacred or purposeful about these times. It makes me wonder, why does God make us wait? What’s happening beneath the surface when life feels like it’s stuck on pause?
In this Bible study, we’re going to dig into the big question: why does God sometimes make us wait? We’ll explore what the Bible really says about waiting, look at honest stories of waiting from Scripture, and discover a collection of encouraging Bible verses about waiting on God’s timing.
Whether you’re in a (hopefully) short season of waiting or it feels like your prayers have been put on the longest “hold” ever, I hope that by the end of this study, you’ll feel seen, reminded of God’s faithfulness, and equipped with practical encouragement for the journey ahead.
If you find this Bible study about waiting helpful, please pin it so that others can find it too!
Why Does God Make Us Wait?
While waiting on God is difficult, He often uses these times to stretch our trust, strengthen our patience, and pull us closer to Him than ever before. Even though waiting might feel like punishment or being left out, it rarely is.
In fact, I sometimes wonder if there’s something special about the people God invites into seasons of waiting. When I look at the Bible, it seems like almost all of the people God used in powerful ways – Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David – had to live through long, confusing stretches of waiting. Maybe waiting isn’t a sign that you’ve been forgotten. Maybe it’s the clearest sign that God is personally invested in shaping your faith and drawing your heart deeper into His.
Here are some reasons why God allows (and even invites) us to wait:
- Building Faith: Waiting helps us to rely on God instead of quick fixes or worldly things like money, the people around us, or even ourselves.
- Endurance: Spiritual strength is built in times when answers are slow and life feels like it is stuck.
- Aligning Our Hearts: God uses waiting to shape our desires, dreams, and priorities. I don’t know about you, but after long times of waiting, I find my priorities change, and the thing I thought I wanted just isn’t as important anymore.
- Revealing His Glory: Sometimes, God’s answers are delayed so His miracle will be undeniable. His timing makes it clear that only He could have solved it.
- Surrender: Waiting is a daily practice of trusting God’s wisdom above our own.
Even Jesus Waited
When we’re stuck in long, uncertain seasons, it’s easy to feel alone or wonder if we’ve been forgotten by God. But did you know Jesus himself spent a lot of time waiting to?
Thirty Years Before His Ministry
Even though Jesus was the Messiah, He waited in the background for thirty years before stepping into public ministry. Day after day, He lived an ordinary life, working, learning, loving His family, and growing quietly.
Forty Days in the Wilderness
After His baptism, Jesus didn’t rush straight into healing and preaching. Instead, He waited alone in the desert for forty days – fasting, praying, and facing temptations – all preparing Him for what was coming next.
We also face temptations while we wait – temptation to doubt God, fix things ourselves, or trust in our own answers and abilities.
Waiting on God’s Timing During Ministry
Often during His ministry, Jesus said, “My time has not yet come.” He consistently waited for the Father’s direction, never rushing God’s plan.
One striking example of this is when His dear friend Lazarus fell gravely ill. Instead of rushing to heal him, Jesus purposely stayed where He was for two more days after hearing the news (John 11 1–44). Think of Mary and Martha, waiting, watching the door, their hope slowly slipping away as the hours dragged on. They must have wondered why Jesus was waiting and why He wasn’t coming quickly to help them. Yet, it was precisely in that waiting that Jesus revealed God’s glory by raising Lazarus from the dead!
Long Night in the Garden
The night before the cross, Jesus waited in agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. He prayed, “Not my will, but Yours be done,” showing us what it looks like to surrender to God even when it’s incredibly difficult.
Can you imagine what Jesus felt like as he prayed alone there? He knew what was coming and what He would have to endure. I sometimes wonder if He felt tempted to run away… Perhaps there is a lesson for us here as well – we might be tempted to run away from God while we wait, but just like Jesus, we need to surrender to God’s will instead of our own uncertainty, impatience, or fear.
He’s Still Waiting
Scripture teaches us that after rising from the grave and returning to heaven, Jesus waits at the right hand of the Father. He’s waiting for the day when God will say it’s time to return and make all things new!
7 Powerful Bible Verses About Waiting
The Bible gives us wisdom, comfort, and real-life stories for every waiting season. Here are seven essential bible verses about waiting – with a link to dive deeper into each scripture with a devotional:
Waiting on the Lord With Courage (Psalm 27:14)
“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”
God calls us to wait bravely, not just passively. His strength is available, even when we don’t know what the outcome will be.
Read the full devotional on Psalm 27:14 →
Waiting for God’s Strength and Renewal (Isaiah 40:31)
“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.”
God promises to give us the strength we need to keep moving forward. He empowers us when we pause, trust, and lean on Him instead of trusting our own efforts.
Read the full devotional on Isaiah 40:31 →
Waiting With Hope (Psalm 130:5-6)
“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.”
Just like a night watchman knows, without question, that morning will come, we can wait expectantly for God, confident that He will bring light and hope to our situation, even when it still feels dark.
Read the full devotional on Psalm 130:5–6 →
Waiting Quietly for God’s Goodness (Lamentations 3:25–26)
“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.”
This verse tells us that it’s good for us to wait quietly. Not with fretting, anxiety, or stress. God’s goodness doesn’t depend on our circumstances, and quiet waiting is faith in action, trusting that God loves us in struggles and in silence.
Read the full devotional on Lamentations 3:25–26 →
Looking to God and Waiting With Expectation (Micah 7:7)
“But as for me, I will look to the Lord;
I will wait for the God of my salvation;
my God will hear me.”
Look beyond discouragement and declare with boldness: God sees, God cares, and He hears every prayer.
Read the full devotional on Micah 7:7 →
Be Still and Wait Patiently on the Lord (Psalm 37:7)
“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices.”
Don’t get discouraged when you see others around you getting breakthroughs, especially those who aren’t followers of the Lord. Don’t compare, stress, or hurry. God’s timing is perfect, and true peace comes from resting in His plan for your life.
Read the full devotional on Psalm 37:7 →
Waiting in Silence With Hope (Psalm 62:5 )
“For God alone, O my soul,
wait in silence, for my hope is from him.”
When you simply don’t have the words anymore and there are no answers, let God be your quiet strength and living hope.
Read the full devotional on Psalm 62:5 →
More Encouraging Bible Verses About Waiting
The Bible is filled with reminders that God honors those who wait patiently for Him, and that hope is never wasted in His hands. Here are a few more Bible verses about waiting, endurance, and quietly trusting God’s timing.
- Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him – Isaiah 30:18
- Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long – Psalm 25:5
- I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him” – Lamentations 3:24
- Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly – Proverbs 14:29
- Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you – Proverbs 20:22
- Being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy – Colossians 1:11
- 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
- Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer – Romans 12:12
- Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him – James 1:12
- And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you – 1 Peter 5:10
- I wait for your salvation, O Lord – Genesis 49:18
- Be still, and know that I am God – Psalm 46:10
- Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you – Psalm 33:20–22
How to Find Strength While Waiting on God
Wondering how to thrive, and not just survive, while you wait? Here are a few practical steps:
- Pray honestly: Use your journal to write about how you feel. Tell God your frustrations, fears, and desires.
- Stay rooted in Scripture: Take time each day to read your Bible. Remind yourself of God’s character and His promises.
- Focus on today: Live faithfully in the small, everyday things while waiting for big answers.
- Practice gratitude: Remember to celebrate the small joys in your life and God’s daily faithfulness.
- Release control: Try to let go of your timelines and let God be God.
Frequently Asked Questions About Waiting on God
Q: How do I know God hears me while I wait?
A: The Bible promises, again and again, that God hears every prayer. Trust His love and faithfulness.
“The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.” Proverbs 15:29.
Q: What if I’m struggling with doubt or discouragement?
A: Doubt is normal, especially when you are waiting and God is silent. Bring your doubts to God in prayer and fill your mind with truth from Scripture. Don’t face it alone.
Q: Are there prayers I can pray while waiting?
A: Yes! Honest, hope-filled prayers – like the ones found in the Psalms – are powerful. Read them out loud and memorize them so that you can speak them if worries or uncertainty start to creep in.
Final Thoughts
Waiting is hard, but you are never alone. God promises strength, hope, and new mercies every day. Let these Bible verses about waiting renew your faith and remind you: God’s timing is always best.
For deeper Bible study, encouragement, and prayer, check out the full devotionals linked above!
