Lamentations 3:25-26 “The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD”.
Waiting is one of the most universal human experiences, yet it remains one of the most difficult. We wait for answers, opportunities, direction, healing, and breakthrough. We wait for clarity when the path ahead feels foggy. We wait for doors to open, hearts to mend, and life to shift. And in a world driven by instant results, waiting can feel like standing still while everything else keeps moving.
But imagine, just for a moment, what life would be like if everything you prayed for arrived the very moment you asked. Every opportunity accepted. Every desire granted. Every request is met without delay. It might feel exciting at first, but over time, such immediacy would leave us shallow, untested, and unrooted. Growth requires resistance, and character is shaped through seasons when we are stretched, refined, and quietly transformed.
God often allows “not yet” moments because He loves us too much to let us settle for less than His best. The waiting itself becomes a teacher, shaping humility, patience, and spiritual maturity. These seasons help us develop a deeper dependence on God rather than on our own timing. They anchor us, soften us, and prepare us for what we are not yet ready to receive.
Waiting also reveals things about us we wouldn’t otherwise see. Our desires shift, our perspectives broaden, and our priorities gain clarity. There are times when something we desperately wanted a year ago no longer holds the same weight today. As we wait, God works within us, `aligning our hearts with His purpose and refining what we long for. The gift of waiting is not just what God does around us, but what He reshapes within us.
Consider the rhythm of winter. The bare branches may look lifeless, but the hidden work happening underground is essential. As the tree stands still, its roots strengthen, reaching deeper into the soil. Nourishment is gathered. Structure is reinforced. Winter becomes a season of preparation, not inactivity. Much like those rooted trees, our waiting seasons are not empty pauses; they are sacred spaces where God fortifies our faith. He deepens our trust, strengthens our foundation, and equips us for the fruit to come.
This is why waiting with God is very different from waiting apart from Him. When we choose to lean into His presence rather than resist the discomfort of delay, our capacity grows. We learn to rest in His goodness, even when life feels slow or uncertain. We discover that He is not only the God who fulfils promises, but He is also the God who shapes us in the meantime.
Even practical rhythms of rest speak to this truth. Slowing down, pausing, or dedicating time to quiet reflection may seem counterproductive when responsibilities are urgent and life feels demanding. Yet rest opens our hearts to hear God more clearly. It reminds us that our strength doesn’t come from constant striving, but from abiding in Him. He works in the stillness just as powerfully as in seasons of activity.
Waiting is not wasted time. It is formative time. It is the place where roots grow deep, character is shaped, and trust becomes genuine. And while we may not always understand the timing of God’s ways, Scripture reassures us that He is good to those who seek Him, sit with Him, and wait on Him. He knows when we are ready. He knows what we truly need. And His timing (though often different from our own) is always wise, purposeful, and filled with love.
So, if you find yourself in a season of waiting, take heart. God is not withholding good from you. He is preparing you for it. What looks still on the surface is often the season where the deepest growth occurs. Allow Him to meet you in the waiting. Allow Him to shape you through the quiet. And trust that when the time is right, He will unfold His plan with the same faithfulness that carried you through the waiting.
Amen.
SIX KEY TAKEAWAY POINTS
Waiting is purposeful, not passive; God uses delay to develop strength, depth, and spiritual maturity:
Seasons that feel still are often seasons where your roots grow the deepest.
Instant answers would leave us unshaped and unprepared but waiting builds humility and dependence on God:
It transforms your character in ways immediate blessings never could.
Our desires often change over time and waiting gives God room to refine what you ask for:
He aligns your heart with His wisdom through the slow work of transformation.
Like winter trees growing deeper roots, unseen growth happens in your life during quiet seasons:
Waiting strengthens your foundation long before fruit appears.
Rest and stillness may seem unproductive, but they create space for God to work in powerful, unseen ways:
He speaks clearly in the quiet and moves even when you cannot see Him.
God is good to those who wait with Him: He is never late, and His timing carries purpose and love.
Trusting His timing prepares you for blessings you’re not yet ready to receive.
