When God Makes You Wait: Finding Peace in the Waiting Room of Life
I’ve been thinking a lot about life’s “waiting rooms.”
Not just the physical ones with white walls and stale air, but the invisible ones we sit in every day.
Waiting for the right relationship.
Waiting to quit a job or start a new one.
Waiting for clarity.
Waiting for the breakthrough that never seems to come.
Waiting for something, anything really, to finally feel like it's happening.
I’m realizing… we’re always waiting for something.
It reminds me of Joseph, the one with the dreams. The coat. The betrayal. And most of all, the long, invisible years in a prison cell.
He had a calling from God. A vision. A future that was meant to be glorious. But before all that?
He waited.
And he didn’t even know when (or if) it was ever going to happen.
That’s what gets to me.
It’s not the waiting itself. I can endure things if I know when they’ll end.
It’s the not knowing.
Not knowing if the promise will come.
Not knowing when I’ll get out of this metaphorical prison.
Not knowing whether I’m still on track, or completely off course.
Why Does God Make Us Wait?
I’ve asked this question more times than I care to admit. Usually not out loud - more like whispered prayers in the dark or quiet frustrations I try to hide even from myself. If God is good, and if He can make things happen… then why doesn’t He? Why the delay, the silence, the seemingly endless in-between?
I don’t think there’s a one-size-fits-all answer. But I’m starting to believe that waiting isn’t a sign that God has forgotten us. It’s actually the opposite. It’s often where He does His most intimate work in us.
Because waiting changes us. It slows us down. It makes us confront what we really believe about God, about ourselves, about what we’re hoping for. Waiting stretches our faith in ways comfort never could. It teaches us to release control, to lay down our timelines, and to trust that something holy can be happening even when nothing seems to be moving.
I don’t think God makes us wait to punish us. I think He allows it to prepare us for what we’re asking for, and sometimes, for something even better than what we imagined. It’s in the waiting that character is refined. It's where trust grows deep roots. And it’s where our hearts, stripped of distraction, finally become quiet enough to hear Him speak.
So no, the waiting season might not feel good. But it is sacred. And not a single moment of it is wasted in God’s hands.
What If I Never “Arrive”?
That’s the other part that stings.
That is the question that lingers in the back of my mind more often than I’d like to admit: What if I never arrive? What if the dream doesn’t come true, the door never opens, the thing I’ve been praying for just… doesn’t happen? It’s hard to even say it out loud sometimes, because part of me feels guilty. Like I should have more faith, like I shouldn’t question. But I do.
The truth is, we don’t always get what we imagine. Some prayers are answered differently than we expect. Some seasons stretch longer than we ever planned for. And sometimes, we wake up years later and realize life has taken a different shape altogether.
But here’s what I’m learning: “arriving” isn’t the goal. Obedience is. Faithfulness is. Becoming someone who still chooses God, still shows up, still loves well in the in-between - that is success in the Kingdom. Maybe the whole idea of “arriving” was never meant to be about milestones or achievements, but about who we’re becoming along the way.
And maybe, just maybe, we already are somewhere sacred, even if it doesn’t feel like it. Maybe the “arrival” we’re longing for isn’t a job, relationship, or breakthrough - but the peace of knowing we’re exactly where God has us for a reason. Right here. Right now.
So if it feels like you’re still in the wilderness, still waiting for something to click into place… know this: you haven’t missed it. You’re not behind. And you’re not alone. You are in process, not forgotten. And God doesn’t waste journeys that feel unfinished.
What I Do in My Waiting
Honestly, I’ve learned that there’s no perfect way to “wait well,” but there are small, gentle rhythms that keep me anchored when everything else feels stuck.
I write to God honestly.
Not polished prayers. Not Instagrammable words. Just raw, quiet scribbles in my journal. “God, I’m tired.” “God, I don’t get it.” “Are You still with me?” I don’t hide my emotions from Him anymore. I bring my full, messy self to Him, because I know He sees it anyway.
I remember people like Joseph.
It reminds me that I’m not the only one who’s ever waited in the dark. Joseph didn’t waste his prison years. He served, interpreted dreams, kept showing up even when it felt like no one saw him. He was faithful before he was promoted. And I think that kind of faithfulness is deeply pleasing to God.
I limit the noise.
In seasons of waiting, everyone suddenly has advice. Social media screams, “Take control! Manifest it! Make it happen!” But I’ve learned to turn down the volume on the world so I can actually hear God’s whisper. I step back from the pressure to constantly be productive or “figuring things out,” and I give myself permission to rest.
I keep showing up.
Even if the day feels ordinary. Even if I feel invisible. There’s something sacred about continuing to do what God has put in front of you. The job, the ministry, the small acts of love - even when there’s no applause or breakthrough yet.
And I let go of timelines.
This one’s the hardest. I like control. I like knowing where I’m headed. But God rarely works on my schedule, and I’m learning that His delays aren’t denials. They’re just invitations to trust deeper. To believe that His timing isn’t just better, it’s also kinder and more loving than I can imagine.
These practices don’t erase the ache. But they’ve helped me find peace in the ache - a peace that isn’t based on outcomes, but on His presence.
Final Thoughts
Maybe life is a series of waiting rooms, and maybe that’s not a bad thing.
Because God doesn’t just meet us at the destination. He walks with us in the hallway.
And He is just as present in the wait as He is in the fulfillment.
So if you’re like me, stuck in the middle of “what now?” and “what’s next?”,
remember: the God of Joseph is still writing your story.
And He hasn’t forgotten you.
✨ FAQs
Q: How do you stay positive while waiting on God?
A: When you feel like you’ve been waiting forever, hope can start to feel like a distant memory. Like something that belongs to other people, but not you. I get it. It’s hard to keep believing when all you see are closed doors, silence, or the same routine on repeat. But hope isn’t about pretending everything’s fine. It’s about choosing, even with trembling hands, to believe that God is still working behind the scenes.
Let yourself grieve the delay, cry when you need to, but don’t isolate yourself. Talk to God honestly. Surround yourself with voices that remind you of His faithfulness. Sometimes hope looks like a big breakthrough, but other times, it’s as small and sacred as getting out of bed, whispering, “I still trust You,” and choosing to keep walking, even when the path isn’t clear yet.
Q: What does the Bible say about being in a waiting season?
A: The Bible is full of people who had to wait. Not just for days or months, but sometimes for decades. Abraham waited 25 years for Isaac. Joseph spent years in slavery and prison before his dream came true. David was anointed king as a teenager but didn’t actually become king until much later. Over and over, Scripture shows that waiting isn’t punishment, it’s preparation.
In the waiting, God refines our character, deepens our faith, and reminds us that our worth isn’t tied to progress or speed. Verses like Lamentations 3:25 (“The Lord is good to those who wait for Him”) and Psalm 130:5 (“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits…”) remind us that waiting can be sacred. It’s not wasted time. It’s where God often does His deepest work in us.
Q: How to know if it's God's voice or your thoughts?
A: It’s one of the hardest things to wrestle with - “Was that really God, or just my own thoughts?” Especially when you’re in a season of waiting or longing for direction, it’s so easy to overthink every sign, every feeling, every door that opens or closes. But God isn’t the author of confusion or anxiety. His voice brings peace, even when it challenges you.
Often, when it’s really Him, it aligns with Scripture, nudges you toward love and humility, and is confirmed by a quiet confidence in your spirit (even if it doesn’t make full sense yet). He’s not trying to trick you. If you’re seeking Him sincerely, He will lead you. Maybe not with flashing neon signs, but with steady whispers, godly counsel, and an inner peace that persists through your doubts. Keep asking, keep listening, and don’t be afraid to wait for clarity. God’s not in a rush, and He’s really good at making Himself heard in just the right way, at just the right time.
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