Waiting is not built into my DNA. Waiting does not come naturally to most people. For me, I try to stay clear of lineups and look for ways to get away from access traffic. I guess you might say that I am like a lot of people, impatient.
Waiting on the Lord is also difficult and it is something that has to be learned and applied. I remember, early in my Christian walk, asking the Lord for patience and to help me deal with anger. My patience has improved, my anger has subsided and I am learning to wait on God.
Here is a clear and encouraging look at what Scripture means by “waiting upon the Lord.”
What Does It Mean to Wait Upon the Lord?
Key Verse
Isaiah 40:31
“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength…”
1. Waiting Is Not Doing Nothing
In the Bible, “waiting” does not mean:
- sitting idle
- giving up
- passively hoping something changes
It means:
- trusting
- expecting
- depending on God
- staying faithful while God works
It is an active trust, not a passive delay.
2. Waiting Means Trusting God’s Timing
God sees the whole picture—we do not.
Ecclesiastes 3:11
“He hath made every thing beautiful in his time…”
Waiting means:
- believing God is not late
- accepting that His timing is better than ours
- trusting Him even when we don’t understand
3. Waiting Is Often a Time of Preparation
While we are waiting, God is:
- shaping our character
- strengthening our faith
- teaching us dependence
Psalm 27:14
“Wait on the Lord: be of good courage…”
Waiting grows courage, patience, and endurance.
4. Waiting Means Staying Close to God
Waiting is not stepping away—it is drawing nearer.
📖 Lamentations 3:25
“The Lord is good unto them that wait for him…”
While waiting, we:
- pray
- read His Word
- listen
- remain faithful
5. Waiting Involves Surrender
Sometimes waiting is hard because we want control.
Waiting means saying:
“Lord, Your will, not mine.”
Psalm 37:7
“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him…”
It is a place of surrender:
- letting go of anxiety
- releasing outcomes
- trusting God fully
6. Waiting Leads to Renewal
The promise is powerful:
“They shall renew their strength…”
This means:
- strength for today
- endurance for tomorrow
- spiritual refreshment
🦅 7. The Eagle Picture
“They shall mount up with wings as eagles…”
An eagle doesn’t struggle against the wind—it rises on it.
Waiting on God allows you to rise above circumstances, not just survive them.
Simple Definition
Waiting on the Lord is:
Trusting God’s timing, staying faithful in His presence, and expecting Him to act in His perfect way.
Practical Ways to Wait on the Lord
In difficult situations
- Don’t rush ahead—pray first
- Seek God’s direction
In unanswered prayer
- Keep trusting
- Keep thanking
- Keep believing
In daily life
- Walk in obedience
- Stay spiritually alert
- Be patient
Reflection Questions
- What am I waiting on God for right now?
- Am I trusting—or worrying?
- Am I growing during the wait—or resisting it?
Short Devotional Thought
Waiting feels like delay—but in God’s hands, it is development.
What feels like silence is often God working beneath the surface.
The seed underground is not dead—it is preparing to grow.
🙏 Prayer
Lord,
teach me to wait on You with trust and patience.
When I feel anxious, remind me that Your timing is perfect.
Help me stay faithful, prayerful, and strong in the waiting.
Renew my strength, and lift my heart above my circumstances.
I trust You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Waiting on the Lord
When prayers rise up but answers stay still,
And silence seems louder than heaven’s own will,
When time stretches long and the heart feels worn,
And hope feels faint in the light of the morn—
Still… I will wait.
Not as one lost in a restless delay,
But trusting the hand that is shaping my way;
For God is not slow, nor careless, nor late,
He moves with a purpose—He teaches me to wait.
In the waiting, my strength is renewed, not gone,
Like night that prepares for the break of dawn;
Each moment unseen, each tear, each sigh,
Is known by the One who rules the sky.
I learn in the stillness to quiet my fear,
To listen more closely, to feel Him near;
For often His voice is gentle and low,
And only the waiting heart comes to know.
Like eagles that rise on currents unseen,
I’m lifted above what once lay between;
Not by my striving, nor anxious control,
But by resting my weight in the care of His soul.
So I’ll wait in faith, though I don’t understand,
For my times are held in His sovereign hand;
And when He has finished what He will do,
I’ll see that His way was faithful and true.