Waiting can feel like one of the hardest things God asks us to do. Whether we’re waiting for healing, clarity, provision, or a long-held dream to come true, that space between now and not yet can test every ounce of our faith. It’s in the in-between—when prayers feel unanswered and progress feels stalled—that we’re most tempted to doubt God’s timing, His plan, and even His goodness.
But the in-between isn’t a wasted place. It’s not a holding cell where nothing happens. In fact, it’s often where some of the deepest spiritual growth takes root—if we let it.
Why Is Waiting So Hard?
We live in a world of instant everything. Fast food, two-day shipping, on-demand streaming, same-day answers. We’re conditioned to expect immediate results. But God doesn’t operate on a microwave timeline—He often works more like a slow-burning fire, steadily refining and preparing us for what’s ahead.
Waiting is difficult because it reminds us we’re not in control. And that’s exactly where trust begins.
Biblical Stories of the In-Between
Scripture is filled with people who had to wait:
- Abraham waited 25 years for the son God promised him.
- Joseph waited over a decade in slavery and prison before stepping into leadership.
- Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness.
- David was anointed king as a teen but didn’t wear the crown until he was thirty.
- Even Jesus waited 30 years before beginning His public ministry.
If God made them wait—even though He deeply loved them and had mighty plans for them—why should we expect to skip the waiting room?
Waiting is often not about punishment, but preparation.
What Happens In the Waiting?
- God strengthens our character.
Waiting stretches our patience, builds endurance, and often peels back layers of self-sufficiency. It’s in the waiting that we learn to pray with greater honesty, to listen more closely, and to depend more fully on God. - We learn to let go of false timelines.
We might have a picture of how life should unfold by a certain age or stage. Waiting challenges those expectations and invites us to trust in a bigger, better timeline—God’s. - We develop a deeper intimacy with God.
The in-between seasons often strip away distractions and force us to lean into God more intentionally. These can be some of the most prayerful, worshipful, and intimate times of connection with Him. - Our faith is refined.
Faith that only thrives when things go our way isn’t really faith. It’s when the outcomes are uncertain and the road is unclear that true trust is forged.
How to Wait Well
Waiting well doesn’t mean passivity. It’s not folding our hands and doing nothing. It’s about active trust—choosing to keep walking in obedience, hope, and prayer even when the path ahead isn’t fully lit.
Here are a few ways to wait well:
- Stay in the Word. Let Scripture anchor you when your emotions fluctuate. God’s promises will remind you of who He is and what He’s capable of.
- Keep showing up. Don’t stop serving, loving, or living just because you’re waiting. Faithfulness in the small things during the wait prepares you for the big things ahead.
- Surround yourself with encouragement. Community matters. Let others pray with you and for you. Stay connected to people who will remind you that you’re not forgotten.
- Praise through the pause. Worship isn’t just for the victory; it’s for the valley too. Praise is a powerful weapon against discouragement and despair.
When the Wait Ends (and When It Doesn’t)
Sometimes, God answers with exactly what we hoped for, in His perfect time. Other times, the outcome looks different—but somehow more beautiful than we imagined. And sometimes, we won’t understand the purpose of the wait until heaven.
But no matter the outcome, what we can know for sure is this: God was with us the whole time.
He never abandoned us in the waiting. He shaped us there. And that alone makes the in-between a sacred place.
