Waiting can be hard. Most of us would prefer quick, efficient, and instant results whenever possible. But learning to wait well is one of the most powerful things we can do as people of faith. From relationships to healing, from careers to answered prayers, waiting is an inevitable part of life and how we wait matters.
Why Waiting Well Requires Patience
We must wait for seeds to grow into food, for one season to fade into the next, for babies to mature into adults, and for trees to stand tall enough to offer shade. Waiting takes patience and that kind of patience often doesn’t come naturally. It must be developed over time with practice and prayer.
Sometimes we wait days, months, or even decades for an answer to prayer, a healing, a long-desired opportunity, or for peace in our relationships. That kind of waiting tests our character, but it also deepens our dependence on God.
Waiting Well Means Being Courageous
King David lived nearly 3,000 years ago, but he knew what it meant to wait for God’s timing, he waited to be king, waited to be rescued from his enemies, and waited for justice. He wrote:
“Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”
– Psalm 27:14 (NLT)
If David repeated this instruction in the same verse, it’s worth paying attention to. Courage in waiting isn’t about being idle, it’s about being anchored in trust while the world moves around you.
How to Wait on God Actively
Waiting well doesn’t mean doing nothing. While you wait, you can stay close to God by:
- Praying and staying in communication with Him
- Looking for His hand in daily moments
- Reading and meditating on His Word
- Worshiping through all seasons
- Serving those around you with love and humility
- Thanking God for blessings you already have
Just because you can’t see forward progress doesn’t mean God isn’t working behind the scenes. Often, the deepest growth happens underground before we ever see the fruit.
How to Actively Wait on God as a Single Woman
Being a single woman doesn’t mean hiding in the church or just staying home every night. It means being intentional, taking action to become the very best version of yourself and putting an effort into being available when the right guy comes around.
Do you need to improve your appearance, physical health, psychological health, or find healing from past trauma? If so, focus on those things. As you do, you are building your character and self-worth which actually makes you more attractive.
Now, when a good guy does come into your life, be sure to reciprocate communication and invitations to meet. Don’t do anything that would be interpreted as “playing games”. When you believe you’ve met the “right guy”, include your friends, family, and church into your decision making before taking things to the next step.
How to Actively Wait on God as a Single Man
Being a single man is tough. As men we are pulled in so many directions and it can be challenging to discern how to pick the right woman. As men, we are called to be leaders and not just sit around doing nothing.
We should be actively accepting the challenge to introduce ourselves to women we find attractive instead of shying away because we are afraid of rejection. Yes, rejection doesn’t feel good but we do need to learn and grow past this, otherwise we’ll never find a wonderful woman to marry. We can hope that the “right woman” will be friendly and smiling at you when you approach her, and that she will understand your awkwardness and be graceful, but that may not happen.
As men we need to work on having courage and working through disappointment. We need to become men a woman actually wants to be with. A man she can trust and rely on. So don’t give up! Pursue personal growth, seek healing from past trauma, and do everything in your power to find a high-quality woman of integrity.
And remember what the Bible says… “He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the Lord”. Proverbs 18:22 NKJ You must stay active to “find” her, you can’t hide at home or be complacent. And then, when you find a good woman, you wait on God to show you if she is the right one to marry.
Biblical Examples of Those Who Waited Well
Scripture is full of faithful people who learned to wait well:
- Noah spent decades building an ark before the rain ever came.
- Ruth served faithfully and trusted God after becoming a widow.
- Joseph endured betrayal and prison for years before his promotion in Egypt.
- John was exiled to Patmos, yet continued to trust God and wrote the book of Revelation while waiting.
These individuals didn’t just sit still, they stayed faithful in their waiting, and God honored their perseverance.
Final Thoughts: Become Someone Who Waits Well
Whether you’re waiting for a breakthrough, a relationship, or a word from God, remember that waiting well builds spiritual strength. Ask the Lord for patience. Invite Him into your process. And know that while you are waiting, God is still working.
Need a reminder of God’s timing? Visit our encouraging devotional on hearing from God for more insight. Or check out this daily devotional from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
FAQs About Waiting For God
Waiting well means trusting God’s timing, staying faithful in prayer, and living with expectation, not anxiety. It’s about active trust, not passive delay.
Waiting often reveals our desire for control. It’s difficult because it forces us to depend on God rather than our own plans or timing. But it’s also where growth happens.
Yes, many. Noah, Ruth, Joseph, David, and John all waited through long seasons of uncertainty while remaining faithful. Their stories inspire us to trust God through our own delays.
Even when you don’t see immediate results, God is shaping your heart, preparing circumstances, and aligning everything in His perfect timing. Trust that your wait has a purpose!
Trusting God In Uncertainty
Are You Totally Confused About Waiting for God's Timing?
If your answer is YES, I completely understand. I have been a Christian for many years trying to discern the will of God for my life and it can be disappointing. Sometimes the answers can be perfectly clear and we are 100% certain of God’s direction. But other times, we may not ever hear anything at all!
Because of that, we might become upset at God, be distant, and slowly drift away all because the pastor said “you must wait on God”. But, even though God can speak through the pastor during a sermon, it doesn’t mean that was the exact message God wanted you to hear. It’s possible that God is calling you to step out in faith.
As believers everything we do is based on faith in Christ. And in this natural world we live in, we face the same uncertainties as people who don’t place their faith in Christ. That is why it is important to spend time reading the Bible and learn what God is saying to us. He cares for us, He loves us, and He created us for a purpose. But it’s also our job to discover what that purpose is.
Sometimes God can make it clear what He wants us to choose as a profession, where to live, and who to marry, etc. And other times you don’t hear anything. This indeed can be very frustrating but we can’t give up on God if He doesn’t communicate to us the way we expect Him to.
Final Encouragement
Life can be very beautiful and yet filled with challenges and uncertainties. But one thing is for sure… I would rather live like Jonathan who put his faith into action (read: 1 Samuel chapter 14), instead of someone who just sits around and does nothing with their life and becomes cynical.
Let us be men and women of faith today!!
If you enjoyed this article about trusting God, you also like this article too: Who Is Willie Robertson? From Duck Commander to National Icon. You’ll learn what it takes to lean on God when times are tough and find hope when the situation seems impossible.
