I hate to wait. Being patient is something that everyone struggles with from time to time, but for some of us it can be a real battle! When I see the finish line I want to run right for it, finish the race and then move on to the next thing. And when something slows me down, well—my reaction can be less than optimal.
As a Christian, I know intellectually that God has a plan for every aspect of my life. I know that His plan is good…even when it doesn’t look that way from my point of view. And I know that His timing is perfect and that by waiting on Him I can trust things will work out even better than if everything were to work out according to my own plans.
But—sometimes that knowledge doesn’t quite make it from my head to my heart.
And so I get frustrated when things don’t happen as quickly as I’d like them to. I try to hurry things along, force them into place. I spend a lot of time and energy fighting against the flow, trying to force my will onto a situation that God is quite capable of directing without my frantic efforts. Not surprisingly, sometimes that backfires and I end up exhausted, frustrated, and discouraged.
How much grief and trouble could we save ourselves if we truly waited patiently for the Lord?
“For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. ~Habakkuk 2:3 ESV
Waiting doesn’t mean giving up, and it doesn’t mean giving in. It doesn’t mean you’re being lazy—after all, your frustration, worry, and frantic efforts to force something that can’t be hurried into moving in a direction it’s not ready to go? They’re not really changing the situation at all. What’s happening instead is that you’re worked up, impatient, and missing out on an opportunity to enjoy the journey at whatever pace God has set for you.
And in all the hurry and impatience, we might be missing some valuable lessons and gifts that God wants us to enjoy—gifts that we’d miss if you were moving along at our own pace rather than God’s.
“For there is a time and a way for everything, although man’s trouble lies heavy on him.” ~Ecclesiastes 8:6 ESV
Instead of rushing and allowing frustration and impatience to build up, what if we chose to embrace the pace that God’s setting for us? What if we leaned into God’s timing, and decided to enjoy the journey as we go?
If you’ve ever walked with a toddler, you know that the destination is often not nearly as exciting as the adventure along the way. Walking along, you’ll find that you have to slow down as the toddler stops to examine rocks, bugs, flowers, and sometimes nothing at all. You might have to start and stop a hundred times, but by the time you get where you’re going the child will have learned a lot about nature and taken in a lot of joy in every discovery they’ve made.
Maybe that’s what it means to really lean into God’s timing—to take the opportunity we’re given when we have to wait as a gift, not a punishment. To use the time to learn, grow, and enjoy where we are rather than fret over where we think we should be. After all, when God says “Wait,” He always has a good reason! Waiting on His timing might be the perfect opportunity to learn to stress less and find joy in the journey.
I am grateful + pray for your remarkable ministry. Thank for this encouragement. Embracing the pace is truly a Word from the Lord. I’m opening a Christian pregnancy help center and it’s been a long, arduous job. The enemy is relentless but we will open in the next few months. Please ask your team to pray for Westside Pregnancy Center in Texas.
Lisa, praying for you and for the Westside Pregnancy Center! Praise God for what you are doing, I’m sure that it’s been a fight to get there but what a blessing it will be to many.
I am praying for Westgate pregnancy Center.Please pray for my Intensive Outpatient Program I’m trying to start in NJ.
Thanks for the article it was very poignant!!!
“When God says wait”??? Who hears Him say this?? How does one know this is what God is saying. Maybe He’s saying, “Leap. Try it. Suck it and see”. Or”no. . It’s not gonna happen “. We can’t assume what God is saying just because of an absence. How do we know God is saying “wait”. How do others view this?
Thanks for the topic though. I find it perplexing.
Thank you for this. The last year has Been the most challenging and painful year that I’ve ever had. My body needs to come into alignment and my nervousness system. Every aspect of my life has been thrown into craziness. The daily amount of pain and emotionally torment has been appt to bare and at times seems too much. I have to trust god has a plan and will keep his promises to me. I would love it if you could pray for me.
This was perfect for me today. I have been struggling with the Lord about something He has promised and His timing. It’s been 19 years! I’m so tired now, not only because of my restlessness but also age and family.
I’m in need to rest and learn what God has for me through the waiting process and I’m not able to anymore.
Please pray for strength, patience and joy as I’m waiting for Him.
Thank you
I am a divorcee survivor. My husband walked away from me he cheated on me almost our whole married life, he was a minister and he knew better but he chose his selfish ways over our marriage and our family. To put our home into foreclosure and only has 7 years left to pay I am disabled + 65 I cannot work I only make $700 a month I’m struggling I know that God will take care of me but it’s hard to wait. Please pray with me as have many needs financially thank you God bless!
Hello, Faith. While reading your comment, I was reminded of Hagar. After she, in obedience to Abram and Sarai, became pregnant by Abram, Sarai dealt harshly with her and Hagar fled. The angel of the LORD (Yahweh) tells her Yahweh’s plan is to bless her and her son that she’s carrying and instructs her to return. Hagar then, in Gen. 16:13, “called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.” This passage is where we get the name of God, Jehovah El Roi.
Faith, God see’s you. He is the personal, loving Father that sees you; your heart, your pain and your circumstance. I have seen God do amazing miraculous things in my life and my family. I believe He, in His kindness and steadfast love, sees you and will provide your need and comfort your pain. I am praying for you.
I was brought up as a get it done yesterday. Since my 20s and I became saved by Christ I find I can’t be that way and it has been a long journey for me. Sometimes I still have settle back and let Jesus take the wheel I am 76 now had a stroke in 2012 and if nor for God I really don’t know where I’d be. I’ve learned in His time it happens no matter what I love what you do thank you so much
I, too, pray for the success of Westside Pregnancy Center. I have no doubt it will help so many people… God bless you for that. Dr. Gentempo, I am curious as to why these people posted on August 7th when I only received this email today, August 11th. In His Name…. Marlene
Amen! Perfect timing to remind me! I have seen the visions and more so back to back and trying to hold on and wait, but it’s coming to past! BLESSINGS!
Thank for the reminders. It is always hard waiting when it seems to be never ending! I will memorize the Habakkuk verse as a reminder. Thanks for your ministry.
God gave me this scripture verse in 1996 & I,m still waiting in God,s waiting room for the answer to my prayer.I won,t give up as he has brought me this far.Thanks for the encouragement!
I can’t tell you how the timing of this was so perfect not only for me but I shared with my daughter who also needed this and she agreed. Patience has never been a strong suite of mine and I fear I have passed it on but I thank you for sharing scripture that serves as such a strong reminder that the good Lord’s got everything under control ❤️
God has given me a much needed and deserved rest recently. It has been hard to just sit back and rest as it is just so foreign to me. I had asked God for this quite a while back, and as we are always told it is all according to his plan and his timing. Just a few minutes before reading this article I was just reflecting on this very thing showing me that God’s message is always out there waiting on us to listen and obey. Amen
Thank you, and the LORD bless you always. I needed to hear this today. Bo, Yeshua, Bo.
Thanks Chris, yes the destination is a place where we can have some rest after an exiting, adventurous journey and start dreaming and making plans for the next one . Let us remind ourselves that our Father have the best for each one of us and for all of us together , His great pleasure is walking with us,holding our hands,showing us the beauty and wonders of His creation. He gives us all the time we need.
Let His peace which surpasses all understanding keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus !
Thanks for this and the way God encourages me through your ministry. I hear God asking, “Are you going to trust me?” Thank you for being obedient to His call!
Before my feet hit the floor this morning, I asked the Lord where he wanted me to be in His book this morning, immediately I heard Habakkuk. So my early morning coffee time was with the Lord and Habakkuk. Opened this article today a few hours later, referencing Habakkuk. I’ve been waiting for the Lord to act In a certain area of my life for quite some time now. This is confirmation that He is talking, and I am listening. I will continue to wait on the Lord and be patient, as there is a lesson yet to be learned on my journey.
What a great and God Loving dissertation. It’s just what I needed.
Please pray for my Dad I just find out he has first stage of Parkinson disease he is very confused I just pray he will be healed I am asking for a miracle healing Amen