For many of us, waiting is one of the hardest things. Whether we are waiting in a doctor’s office for our name to be called or waiting for a big breakthrough to catapult us towards our goals, waiting can makes us as antsy as a toddler.

Why is waiting so hard? There are a number of reasons that come to mind. If it is something like waiting in traffic, this is difficult because our lives are so busy, and we don’t know how to be idle. Also, we likely have a ton of tasks on our never ending to-do lists, and waiting is putting us further behind.

If the situation is something bigger, like waiting for a prayer to be answered or waiting for a dream to come to life, we can easily get discouraged along the way. We might start off hoping that things will work out, but then day after day, things do not seem to change. Or maybe the change is so small, we hardly notice it. Over time, our hope seems to wither. The enemy whispers doubts in our ears. And it is easier to believe the lie than it is to stand on truth.

Waiting can be a sweet place, if we approach it correctly and cling to God.

“But nothing teaches us so effectively as a prolonged difficulty. Unable to handle it on our own, we turn to Him out of desperation and ultimately realize how truly loving, wise, and good He really is.” – Dr. Charles F. Stanley, Waiting on God.

I know what it’s like to see other people’s dreams come true, while I still wait on the sidelines. In some cases, I don’t believe the other people truly wanted and longed for that particular thing like I had. Sometimes it all seems so unfair.

But God…

I have learned that God is a trustworthy God. So when I am faced with situations like these, now it is a lot easier for me to turn to Him with trust. I might still experience an ache in my heart at times. But I can still take that pain and hand it over to the Lord. I can tell Him that I trust His plans. I know He is working all things together for good (Romans 8:28). And I can wait with peace and contentment.

Abraham and Sarah knew a bit about waiting. They were told they would have a child in their old age. But it didn’t happen right away, so they took matters into their own hands. This resulted in a household filled with turmoil. You would think that after all they had done, God would have revoked His promise. But He didn’t. God still gave them a son at just the right time. His mercy and grace were greater than their mistakes. (See Genesis 15, Genesis 16, Genesis 17, Genesis 21.)

When I think about that story, I can see how Abraham and Sarah missed out on precious time with the Lord. Their waiting period was filled with frenzy. If only they had believed, they would have had some wonderful moments of waiting, as they clung to God. They would have learned that when we draw near to God, He draws near to us (James 4:8). This story reminds me of the importance of waiting on God. He can see the big picture. He can see the beginning and the end. He wants what is best for us and for His kingdom. When we learn to trust Him and wait in His loving presence, we will find peace that surpasses understanding.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. – Psalm 23:2

© 2021 Bridget A. Thomas