* What does it mean to worship in the waiting?

I’m working through a tough period in my life. I feel stuck, like I’m waiting for something – a job offer, a relationship to heal, a health diagnosis, a creative breakthrough – and it’s difficult to maintain my faith. People keep saying things like "trust the process" or "God’s timing is perfect," but I’m finding it hard to actively engage with my spirituality when I feel so uncertain and frankly, disappointed. I understand worshipping when things are good, when I feel blessed and grateful, but what does it really mean to worship in the waiting? How can I genuinely worship – not just go through the motions – when I feel like my prayers aren’t being answered and I’m stuck in this uncomfortable in-between space? What practical steps can I take to cultivate an attitude of worship during this period of waiting, and how can I reconcile the feeling of disconnect I have with my faith right now?

Answer

Worship in the waiting refers to maintaining a spirit of reverence, devotion, and praise to God while enduring periods of uncertainty, delay, or hardship. It’s about actively engaging in acts of worship, both outwardly and inwardly, even when circumstances are not ideal and the desired outcome is not yet realized. It involves trusting in God’s plan and timing, expressing gratitude despite present challenges, and affirming faith in His promises even when faced with doubts or discouragement.

Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

• Acknowledging God’s Sovereignty: Worship in the waiting recognizes that God is in control, even when events seem chaotic or meaningless. It’s a conscious choice to submit to His will and trust in His wisdom, even when understanding is limited.

• Cultivating Gratitude: Actively seeking out things to be thankful for, even amidst trials, is a key component. Focusing on blessings, past faithfulness, and God’s inherent goodness shifts perspective and fosters a spirit of worship.

• Maintaining Faith: Waiting periods can test faith. Worship in the waiting means actively combatting doubt with scripture, prayer, and remembrance of God’s past provision. It’s about continually reaffirming belief in His promises and His ability to fulfill them.

• Prayerful Dependence: Prayer becomes a lifeline during waiting. It’s an opportunity to pour out anxieties, seek guidance, and deepen intimacy with God. Consistent prayer reinforces reliance on Him rather than on personal strength or circumstances.

• Active Obedience: Waiting is not passive. It often involves continuing to obey God’s commands and pursue His calling, even when progress seems slow or invisible. Faithfulness in small things during waiting periods demonstrates sincerity and builds character.

• Finding Joy in God’s Presence: True worship transcends circumstances. It’s about finding joy and peace in God’s presence, regardless of external conditions. This can involve practices like meditation on scripture, spending time in nature, or engaging in activities that bring spiritual refreshment.

• Serving Others: Focusing on the needs of others can be a powerful form of worship during waiting. Serving those around us distracts from our own anxieties and allows us to demonstrate God’s love in practical ways.

• Developing Patience: Waiting often cultivates patience, a virtue highly valued in scripture. Learning to wait well refines character and allows God to work more deeply in our lives.

• Renewing Strength: Isaiah 40:31 says, "those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." Worship in the waiting allows us to tap into God’s strength and endurance, enabling us to persevere through difficult times.

• Remembering God’s Character: Remembering God’s unchanging character—His love, faithfulness, justice, and mercy—is essential. This allows one to trust Him even when the future is unclear.

Ultimately, worship in the waiting is a testament to God’s unchanging nature and a declaration of faith in His perfect plan, even when that plan unfolds in ways we don’t fully understand or appreciate at the moment.

Pray This Prayer

Dear God,

My heart feels heavy, my hands feel tied. I find myself in a season of waiting, a space where hope feels distant and the path ahead is unclear. I confess that in this stillness, I often struggle to find You, to feel Your presence, to understand Your plan.

I ask myself, what does it mean to worship in the waiting? Does it mean forcing a smile when my spirit is weary? Does it mean pretending I understand when confusion clouds my mind? I know it must be more than that.

Help me to understand, Lord, that worship in the waiting is not about ignoring the ache, but about acknowledging it and offering it to You. It’s about recognizing Your sovereignty even when I don’t see Your hand moving. It’s about trusting that You are working behind the scenes, weaving a tapestry of purpose I cannot yet comprehend.

Teach me to worship in the waiting by:

• Holding onto Your promises, even when they feel far away. Remind me of Your faithfulness in the past and inspire confidence in Your faithfulness in the future.
• Practicing gratitude for the blessings I already have, even amidst the longing for something more.
• Seeking Your guidance through prayer and scripture, allowing Your Word to illuminate the path, however dimly lit it may be.
• Being still and listening for Your gentle whisper amidst the noise of my anxieties.
• Serving others and focusing on needs beyond my own, allowing compassion to fill the void of waiting.

Help me to see the waiting as an opportunity for growth, a chance to deepen my faith, and to learn to truly rely on You. Let this period of stillness not be a time of despair, but a time of profound and purposeful worship.

I trust that in Your perfect timing, You will bring forth beauty from this waiting. I trust that You will reveal Your plan in its fullness. Until then, I choose to worship You, Lord, with all my heart, soul, and mind, even in the waiting.

Amen.