What To Do While Waiting On God

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Ask any of my friends or family and they’ll likely tell you I am not good at “waiting”. In fact, depending on the circumstance or situation, sometimes waiting seems to actually slow the clock down! Learning more about what waiting on God means and now, what to do while waiting on God has completely altered my heart and understanding.

What was once an almost excruciating wait and perceived halt until God guided or directed my steps is now revealing to be the exact place where God is met. Before, I used to think that the destination or the end result of what I was waiting on or for was the ultimate reveal so to speak. 

But God’s Word tells us the blessing is IN the waiting. Isaiah 30:18 says, “Blessed are all they that wait for Him.” So what exactly do we do while waiting on God? How do we wait on God? Just as our Heavenly Father beckons us to Himself each day, He ever extends the same invitation in the waiting.

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What to do while waiting on God?

What if I told you waiting on God was to bring you to God? Andrew Murray explains in his book, Waiting on God, that “First we wait on God for salvation. Then we learn that salvation is only to bring us to God, and teach us to wait on Him. Then we find what is better still, that waiting on God is itself the highest salvation.”

May we make the most as we wait on God!

So what in the world do you do while waiting on God?

11 Things To Do While You’re Waiting on God

While You’re Waiting on God – Believe God and His Word. 

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6

This is where the rubber meets the road. We have God’s Word filled with promises and truths meant to be trusted and believed in. But in order to believe God and His Word, we have to grow to know God and what He says.

Spend time daily in the bible, soaking up His promises so we can confidently trust and believe God as we wait. Do we really believe what He says? If there’s a struggle of unbelief, ask Him for help in this area.

As You Wait on God – Seek God. 

The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. Lamentations 3:25

Over and over the bible promises the goodness of the Lord upon those who seek Him. When waiting for God, seek Him in the waiting. What is He trying to teach you as you wait? What is He trying to show you? Could God be preparing you for something down the road?

“We are apt to think that everything that happens to us is to be turned into useful teaching; it is to be turned into something better than teaching, but into character. We shall find that the spheres God brings us into are not meant to teach us something but to make us something.” Oswald Chambers 

While Waiting on God – Trust God. 

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Trusting God through the details of life may not always be at the top of our To-Do Lists, but it’s highly important to God. He’s expressed His love and faithfulness to us over and over throughout the bible, our own experiences in life, and especially with a resurrected Son as living proof of His trustworthiness. There’s no better place to practice trusting God than while waiting on God. 

While Waiting on God – Pray to God. 

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. Luke 18:1

While you’re waiting on God, pray. Tell Him everything – your fears, concerns, heartaches, doubts, hopes, dreams, and all things in between. Pray knowing He hears you and cares deeply for you. Take the time to be still and listen for His reply to your heart.

While You’re Waiting on God – Thank Him. 

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2

Giving thanks to God is always popular and emphasized in November but not necessarily on a daily basis. Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances. 

Thanking God while you’re waiting is the perfect time to express thankfulness in your life. It also helps turn our attention from ourselves and up to God for His goodness. When we start to pay attention to our blessings and thank God for His consistent work in our lives – even when we do not see what He’s doing – it helps to deepen our faith in Him.

As You Wait on God – Hope in God. 

I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word. Psalm 130:5

Confident assurance that God will do what He says He will do. Faith as small as a mustard seed goes a long way! But it’s still imperative we spend time in the bible to grow closer to Him and let His Spirit work within us.

I love how Paul writes in 1 Timothy 4:10, “for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers.” We’re waiting on the living God! Our hope is in living God that hears us, sees us, loves and cares for us, fights for us, and draws near to us!

Related: Hope in the Lord When Times Are Scary

While You’re Waiting on God – Watch for Him. 

But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. Micah 7:7

I absolutely love this declaration. Hope is ours to claim always and forever as children of God. We need to always be watching for God and live out our hope in Him as we wait. I often wonder how much I miss for not looking.

Let’s declare together to watch in hope for the Lord as we wait on Him!

While Waiting on God – Enjoy God. 

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice. Philippians 4:4

I remember this catechism as a child, “How can you glorify God? By loving him and doing what he commands.” Rejoicing in the Lord is commanded for all times and a powerful thing to do while we wait (and always). 

Use this time of waiting on God and determine to rejoice in God while you do so! Relish His salvation, faithfulness, protection, and mercy – all generously poured upon us!

While You’re Waiting on God – Worship God.

One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. Psalm 27:4

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalm, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Colossians 3:16

Let this time of waiting on God become a place of worship! Prioritize and carve out times in your day to come before the throne of God to worship Him. Sing songs, pray, journal your gratitude to God and praise Him.

This song always brings me into worship: Is He Worthy?

While You’re Waiting on God – Savor God. 

So the LORD must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the LORD is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help. Isaiah 30:18

Have you ever considered that we’re waiting on the One that waits for us? Oh this verse gets me every single time I read it! He waits on us to turn to Him so he can show us his love and compassion. The NKJV version says “that He may be gracious to you.”

Savor this God of ours that waits on us! Soak up His daily faithfulness! Treasure His promise that, “blessed are those who wait for his help!”

While You’re Waiting on God – Expect God. 

In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3

Finally, when you want to know what to do while waiting on God, expect God to act. Wait on God expectantly. He fulfills every single promise. Expect Him to do so!

To rise each morning reminded of the declaration from Micah, “As for me, I watch in hope for the Lord,” and wait expectantly for God to work all things out for His glory!

Related: Experience the Benefits of Waiting on God

For additional scriptures of encouragement as you wait on God, check out 30 Waiting on God Scriptures.

Does waiting on God mean doing nothing?

I no longer think that waiting on God is a passive endeavor as I once thought. Waiting on God is an active participation and place of immense blessing! It’s where authentic faith grows and knowledge of God deepens.

Waiting on God is the nitty-gritty, daily trust in His ongoing work and a confident expectation in Him alone.

I believe Isaiah 30:18 “Blessed are all they that wait for Him.” It doesn’t mean it’s not still difficult and challenging at times, but waiting on God brings us directly to Him.

What to do while waiting on God?

The 11 things to do while waiting on God draw us to our Savior and King.

I want to end with another excerpt from Andrew Murray’s book:

“Our Queen has her ladies-in-waiting. The position is one of subordintation and service, and yet it is considered one of the highest dignity and privilege, because a wise and gracious sovereign makes them companions and friends. What a dignity and blessedness to be attendants-in-waiting on the Everlasting God, ever on the watch for every indication of His will or favor, ever conscious of His nearness, His goodness, and His grace!”

May we daily wait well on the Everlasting God! So be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart as you wait on the Lord! (Ps 27:14)

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