It is normal human behavior to be impatient when waiting for things, and this applies to those who wait on the Lord for an answer to a prayer.
Waiting on God is an important part of building a relationship with God through prayer.
So, whether you are battling sickness, waiting for a breakthrough in your career, or dealing with heartbreak, waiting on God is an important virtue to practice.
While you wait on the Lord, here are a few things you can continue to do to strengthen you faith and hope for the best outcome.
Wait on the Lord Verse – Psalm 27:13-14
I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
1. Remain Faithful In God
Psalm 46:10 – He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
One common and vital phrase that is often used is ‘let go and let God,’ which is essential to remember during your waiting period.
Remaining faithful is believing everything is working out for your good, even if you cannot see it.
It is also acknowledging God’s sovereignty and control over every situation.
You will often find yourself worrying and trying to fix a problem, but as soon as you acknowledge that God is all-powerful and in control of your situation, He will make your paths straight.
Also, remember that you can have plans, but only God can bring them to pass.
2. Resist Temptation To Sin
Ephesians 6:11 – Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
Waiting on God is when the devil will attack you the most to try and waver your faith and trust in God.
He will present easier ways to accomplish what you are waiting for, like distracting and misleading you.
For example, I do most of my shopping online. And when scrolling Facebook, these shopping ads pop up based on my search history. So now every time I use Facebook to view a post from preachers I follow, it sometimes throws me off-track with the ads that show up.
While I most often don’t give in to temptation, there are days when I do and regret it later.
Not only do I end up wanting to buy something I don’t need, it is also time wasted, which I could have used for prayer or Bible Study.
There is a tremendous sense of satisfaction when you pray or read the bible. Make you feel like you are not alone in whatever situation you are in right now.
3. Pray Without Ceasing
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 – Pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Prayer is one of the main ways to talk to God and thank Him for everything He has done, and is about to do in your life.
It is also one of the main times when He speaks to you.
In 1 Samuel Chapter 1, we learn that there was Elkanah and his two wives Hannah and Penninah.
While Penninah had two children, Hannah had none. But Hannah never gave up praying and asking God for a child. Not only did God give Hannah a son, Samuel, but also three other sons and two daughter.
Ephesians 3:20-21 (KJV) – Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Our God is a God that does exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think of. While it usually is a rough journey sometimes, He often gives us more than we need.
But everything comes through prayer and faith, by patiently waiting on the Lord.
4. Wait Patiently On The Lord
Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)- But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Patience is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, which means keeping a good attitude as you wait.
The Bible tells us that those who wait on the Lord, will renew their strength and mount on wings like an eagle – how powerful is that?
It is so important to remember that God’s timing is the best, and we can trust that His timing is better than ours.
Isaiah 55:8-9 – For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
When waiting on God, it is easy to find ourselves complaining or comparing with others. But sometimes the wait is there for a reason.
It could be a journey or experience that could not only change our lives but the lives of others around us.
We could end up being a living testimony of God’s power and grace manifested through our lives.
5. Study The Bible
Isaiah 40:8 – The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.
The only way to know God is to know the bible.
Most times, what you consider waiting, is actually a season of preparation.
I started blogging as a career path I took in 2018. Little did I know that God guided me along this path to equip me to write about His mighty power and grace. The journey was tough and didn’t go the way I expected, but now years later I understand what God had planned for my life, and I feel blessed.
You can read my story here.
The Bible is filled with a number of encouraging stories of people in a similar situation as you and me, who received God’s blessing at the end.
There are also numerous encouraging verses, which is how God communicates with you, reminding you that He is above all.
6. Fight Fear With Faith
Psalm 23:4 – Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Fear is the number one enemy as you wait on the Lord.
Fear is the game the devil chooses to us against us. He knows that emotions play a key factor in decision making.
Fear is what can make us give up on God. It is what makes us doubt Him and can make us lose faith in Him.
While the feeling of fear is something we can never be without feeling. We can certainly fight it – fight it with Gods word.
Instead of fearing the worst, we can focus on our blessings and trust that God guide us through this journey..
Read more about how you can overcome, faith over fear.
7. Expect God To Give You More Than You Imagined
God is all-powerful therefore, during your waiting period, remember that God can provide for you more than you ever imagined.
In Genesis 17 we see that Abraham and Sarah waited on the Lord for so many years for a child and got one during their old age while they were past child-bearing years.
Job also waited on the Lord and he received His blessings. Instead of getting exactly what he lost, God gave him a double portion of everything.
Job 42:10 – After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.
Job 42:12 – The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys.
8. Trust That Everything Will Turn Out Good
God does not make you wait because He hates you or wants to punish you.
Instead, He makes you wait to prepare for what He has planned and to ensure you can handle it. He makes you wait because there are things He wants you to learn.
Remember that the Lord’s promises are yes and Amen.
2 Corinthians 1:20 – For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.
9. Spread Joy And Happiness
Romans 12:12 – Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Losing hope and doubting is easy and familiar while waiting on God.
Staying positive and serving others while spreading joy is an excellent way to remind yourself to thank God for what you have and how far you have come.
You can spread joy and happiness by sharing the word of God with others, attending church services, and volunteering in places like children’s homes.
When you find it challenging to remain positive, read your Bible, listen to praise and worship songs, take a walk, and surround yourself with people that bring out the best in you.
10. God’s Plan Is Better Than Our Plan
Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Maintaining your trust when waiting on God can be challenging, especially when you see others receiving their blessings.
However, it is essential to trust that God has a plan for you better than what you have mapped out for yourself.
Remember that God provides what you need instead of what you want, and He will provide that if you believe it can be done in through Christ Jesus.
Scriptures on Waiting on God
Isaiah 30:18
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!
Lamentations 3:24
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.
Lamentations 3:25-26
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.
Psalm 5:3
In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.
Psalm 33:20
We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.
Psalm 37:7
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 38:15
Lord, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God.
Jude 1:21
Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
Exodus 14:14
The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.