So often in life, we’re inclined to act quickly. We make snap decisions, rush through tasks, and rush to solutions. But when it comes to living a life of faith, there’s an unexpected power in learning to wait on the Lord.
The truth is that waiting is a journey; it’s an active process that requires intentionality and prayer. It’s hard work to sit still, be patient, and trust in God’s plan for us.
And yet that’s exactly what He calls us to do: to be still and know He is God (Psalm 46:10).
In this article, we’ll explore how waiting on the Lord can be life-changing—not just for ourselves, but for others too.
We’ll look at why it’s sometimes hard to wait, how we can do it with intentionality and prayer, and why it’s worth the effort in the end.
what it means to wait on the Lord
Waiting on the Lord isn’t about being idle or passing time—it’s about learning to trust God in all things.
You choose to wait and rest in faith even when it feels like He isn’t coming through. It’s about surrendering those things that you can’t control and trusting that God will bring them to pass in His time.
When you wait on the Lord, you are actively choosing to believe that whatever He has for you is better than what you have for yourself.
You recognize that sometimes, His plans may involve delays so you can trust Him more fully. Instead of complaining or stressing over timelines, waiting on the Lord allows us to embrace the uncertainty and accept His will with joy and peace.
Finally, waiting on the Lord requires us to stay patient and humble while we await His answer. The Bible says He will never leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).
So during this waiting period, it’s important to seek out dynamic prayer practices such as fasting, intercession, studying scripture, and worshiping Him in order to cultivate a closer relationship with God until our prayers are answered.
what to do while waiting on the Lord
Waiting on the Lord is important, but what do you do while you wait? It’s easy to get frustrated and anxious when we feel like God isn’t answering our prayers.
After all, waiting is hard. But there are some things we can do to pass the time and better ourselves in the process.
The first is prayer. Take the time to talk to God, relaying your troubles while also listening out for His words of wisdom and direction.
Pray that He will grant you patience as you wait and peace during what can often be a difficult time.
As well as prayer, use this time to cultivate spiritual disciplines in your life. Read the Bible, journal what you’ve read, sing worship songs
how do you pray while waiting on God
When you’re waiting on the Lord for something, it can feel like you’re in a vacuum of silence. But prayer is actually a powerful way to wait on Him. So how do you pray while waiting?
First off, remember that God is not silent—He’s with us every step of the way. Asking Him to direct us and reveal His plans to us is a great place to start.
This can also help increase our faith in Him—knowing that even if we don’t understand why He’s making us wait, He knows what He’s doing and has our best interests in mind.
You can also pray for specific things while you wait. A few ideas to get started:
- Pray for patience—this will help it be easier to trust God’s timing instead of rushing ahead or feeling frustrated when things don’t happen on our timeline.
- Pray that God would fill your heart with peace and joy, despite the waiting process being hard.
- Pray for clarity and understanding that whatever God has planned is perfect, even if it doesn’t look perfect from our perspective now.
- Pray for encouragement—ask God to remind you of His presence throughout the process and fill you with strength as you wait.
As you talk with Him through prayer, remember that true faith comes from believing God even when things look impossible from our limited viewpoint (Hebrews 11:1).
The life-changing power of learning how to wait on the Lord comes through having trust and confidence in His ability to give us exactly what we need when we need it—even if it takes longer than expected!
how does God want us to wait
Do you ever feel like you want something, but God is taking too long? Why does waiting on the Lord take so long? Well, God has a purpose for everything and He wants us to wait on Him in faith.
He Wants Us to Grow and Learn
Waiting involves patience and endurance. In this period of waiting, we can grow in our faith and learn to trust in God more.
We can draw closer to Him as we learn that His timing is always perfect and that He is always in control.
He Wants Us to Obey & Take Action
God calls us to wait on Him, but He also calls us to take action while we wait. As we wait on the Lord, it’s important to listen attentively to His voice and obey His instructions along the way.
That might involve taking steps of faith or having tough conversations with others—but no matter what it is, God’s heart is that we would be obedient while we wait.
The waiting process can be challenging but it can also be life-changing if done properly. When you make the decision to turn your focus away from your fears, frustrations, and impatience,
and instead, make an effort to seek God during this period—that’s when you discover how powerful learning how to wait on the Lord really is.
While waiting on the Lord may not be easy, the rewards can be life-changing. Those who have the courage to wait will find that the Lord’s plans are better than anything they can imagine.
Waiting can teach us patience, open our eyes to His presence in our lives, and bring us closer to Him. We may not always understand why we have to wait, but if we trust in the Lord, the rewards for our faithfulness will be great.
So draw strength from the examples of those who waited on the Lord in the Bible, and let their examples inspire you to wait on Him in prayer today.
