* What does waiting on God actually mean?

What does “waiting on God” actually mean in a practical, everyday sense? I understand it’s often used in religious contexts, but I’m looking for a deeper understanding than just passively sitting and doing nothing. Does it imply active preparation, spiritual discernment, or a specific type of prayer? How does one differentiate between waiting on God and simply being complacent or avoiding taking initiative? What are some concrete examples of what waiting on God might look like in different situations, such as career decisions, relationship issues, or facing personal challenges, and how can I discern if I am truly waiting on God or just rationalizing inaction?

Answer

Waiting on God encompasses a spectrum of actions and attitudes, far beyond simple passivity. It involves active trust, expectant faith, and obedient living while patiently anticipating God’s timing and direction. It’s not about passively standing still, but about engaging with God and His Word while awaiting His manifested will.

Here are key aspects of waiting on God:

• Trusting His Character: Waiting on God begins with a firm conviction in His goodness, wisdom, power, and love. This trust acknowledges that God’s plans are ultimately for our benefit, even when we don’t understand them. It means believing He is working behind the scenes, even when circumstances seem contrary.

• Seeking His Will: Active waiting includes diligently seeking God’s guidance through prayer, Scripture study, and wise counsel. It involves aligning our desires with His, surrendering our own agendas, and asking for discernment to understand His plan. This might involve specific prayer requests, or simply asking for understanding regarding a specific situation.

• Praying with Persistence: Waiting on God isn’t a one-time prayer, but a continuous, persistent seeking of His face. Jesus emphasized the importance of persistent prayer in parables like the persistent widow. It demonstrates our dependence on Him and our belief that He hears and answers.

• Obeying His Commands: Waiting on God is not an excuse for inaction or disobedience. Rather, it is a period of obedience to what God has already revealed. It means actively living according to His principles, even when we don’t yet see the outcome. If God has already shown a direction to take, waiting doesn’t imply standing still.

• Living Expectantly: True waiting on God is characterized by hopeful anticipation. It is not a passive resignation to fate, but a confident expectation that God will act in His perfect timing. This expectation should be reflected in our attitudes and actions. It means believing that our prayers will be answered, even if not in the way or time we expect.

• Remaining Patient: Patience is a crucial virtue in waiting on God. It means enduring hardship and delay without losing faith or becoming discouraged. It acknowledges that God’s timing is often different from our own. Patience allows God to shape our character and deepen our reliance on Him.

• Cultivating Inner Peace: Waiting on God cultivates a sense of inner peace and rest, knowing that He is in control. It means resisting anxiety and worry, trusting that He will provide for our needs and work all things together for good. This peace comes from surrendering our anxieties to Him.

• Developing Spiritual Disciplines: Waiting periods can be opportunities for spiritual growth. Through focused prayer, fasting, and meditation on God’s Word, we can deepen our relationship with Him and strengthen our faith. It means actively using this time to draw closer to Him.

• Observing and Discernment: Waiting sometimes requires careful observation of circumstances and people, alongside discernment to see if God is moving and revealing his plans. It is a period of careful assessment and listening to the Holy Spirit.

• Being Open to Change: Waiting on God often requires us to be flexible and open to changing course if He directs us differently than we initially anticipated. His plans may not align with our preconceptions.

• Remembering God’s Faithfulness: Reflecting on God’s past faithfulness can bolster our faith during times of waiting. Remembering instances where He delivered or provided in the past can encourage us to trust in His continued provision and guidance.

In essence, waiting on God is a dynamic process of active trust, seeking, obeying, and expecting, while patiently enduring and cultivating inner peace. It is a time of spiritual growth, characterized by a deeper relationship with God and a more profound understanding of His will.

Pray This Prayer

Dear Lord,

I come before you, heart open and hands outstretched, seeking understanding. The phrase, "waiting on God," often feels like a passive act, a stillness fraught with uncertainty. But what does it truly mean, Lord?

Is it simply enduring silence, a holding pattern until your voice breaks through? Or is it something more active, a dynamic engagement with your will in the midst of the unknown?

Help me to understand the depth of this waiting. Teach me that it’s not about idle passivity, but rather a fervent listening to the whispers of your Spirit. Guide me to discern your direction even when the path ahead is shrouded in mist.

Show me how to trust in your timing, even when my own feels more pressing. Help me to surrender my anxieties and fears, knowing that you are working behind the scenes for my good and for your glory.

Strengthen my faith during this waiting period. May I be patient and persistent in prayer, seeking your wisdom and guidance in every situation. Infuse me with the hope that you are always present, even when I don’t feel your nearness.

Let me learn that "waiting on God" means actively cultivating a relationship with you, deepening my understanding of your Word, and seeking to align my will with yours. May it be a time of growth, refinement, and a deeper understanding of your boundless love.

Thank you, Lord, for your unwavering presence and your perfect timing. I trust in you completely.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.