Are you waiting on God to move powerfully in your life? Is there a situation you are going through where you are waiting for God to intervene on your behalf? Waiting on God can sometimes seem like a daunting task. We know that his ways are not our ways, and his timing far surpasses our human understanding.
But waiting on God can be a wonderful time of growth as we trust and rely on him for his perfect timing. Let’s take a look at what it means to wait on God, and how we can do so with patience, purpose, and grace.
What does Waiting on God mean?
One of the Hebrew words for wait in the Bible is qāvâ, which means to wait, look for, hope, expect, or to look eagerly for (source). Waiting on God is a hopeful expectation for what he will do in our lives. We can wait on God to fulfill his promises in Scripture because his Word is true and does not return void (Isaiah 55:11).
When we pray to God, we can wait in eager anticipation for God to hear our prayers, like David powerfully proclaimed in Psalm 5:3,
In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.
According to this Scripture, waiting on God does not have to be a grueling, arduous process. We can rise each morning with joyful expectation knowing that God hears us, and that those who wait on him will have renewed strength and hope (Isaiah 40:31).
What do I do while Waiting on God?
So what can we do while we wait on God to answer our prayers? Here are some practical things we can do to stay focused on the Lord while we wait for his perfect timing.
Persevere in Prayer
As you spend time waiting on God, remember that you can approach his throne of grace with confidence (Hebrews 4:16). Don’t grow weary in your prayer life, but continue to seek God’s face each day. Spending time in persistent prayer not only deepens our faith, but draws us closer to the Lord in deeper spiritual intimacy. As you wait on God, continue to pour out your heart to him in prayer.
Stay Hopeful and Positive
If one of our children asks us for something, but then spends the rest of the day arguing and complaining, are we more likely to do what they have asked? (Probably not.) Scripture admonishes us to do all things without grumbling or complaining (Philippians 2:14-15). When we are waiting on God for something, it is best to do so with a positive attitude. We can wait in joyful hope and delightful expectation for the amazing things God can do in our lives.
Remain Connected to the Vine
The Greek word for abide is menō, which means to remain, to not depart, to continue to be present, and to wait (source). Let’s stay connected to God by spending time in his presence through his Word. In John 15:4, Jesus encouraged his dieciples with these words:
Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
If you are waiting on God for a breakthrough in your life, hold firmly to the truth of Scripture. This will keep you rooted and grounded in Christ as you dwell in his presence and abide in him. What joy and satisfaction we will find when we daily dwell in his presence!
Serve the Lord with Gladness
As you wait on God, serve him with joy and gladness (Psalm 100:2). You don’t have to sit idly and twiddle your thumbs as you wait for God to move in your life. We can get up, and get involved in Kingdom work by serving God in our families, our communities, and in our churches.
17 Scriptures About Waiting on God
Here are 17 Scriptures on waiting on God that you can read when you need encouragement and strength.
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14
In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3
We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. Psalm 33:20
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Psalm 37:7
Lord, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God. Psalm 38:15
I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. Psalm 40:1
I wait for your salvation, Lord, and I follow your commands. Psalm 119:166
I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. Psalm 130:5
I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. Psalm 130:6
Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. Isaiah 26:8
Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! Isaiah 30:18
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” Lamentations 3:24
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. Lamentations 3:25-26
But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. Romans 8:25
And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. Hebrews 6:15
Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. James 5:7-8
…keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Jude 1:21
A Prayer for Waiting on God
Lord, fill me with your joy and peace as I wait for you. I wait in hopeful expectation for the amazing things you will accomplish in my life. As I wait for you to answer my prayer, help me to remember that your ways are not my ways.
Help me to trust that you know what is best for me, and that you have given me a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). As I wait on you, help me to abide in your Word and draw closer to you. I believe that you have a good, pleasing, and perfect will for my life. Amen.
Free Printable on Waiting on God
Feel free to download this free printable with the Scriptures about waiting on God from this post!
In Conclusion
As you continue to wait on the Lord to meet your needs, I hope that these Scriptures will give you hope and encouragement as you trust his perfect timing. When we focus on the truth of his Word, waiting on God can become a beautiful journey towards peace and fulfillment as we abide in him each day!
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