Is it hard for you to trust God in a season of waiting? Many times, we grow frustrated with God’s timing which can lead to doubts as to whether he cares about us. Today, our guest, Leslie, shares some insights on putting our trust in the Lord. It indeed can make our season of waiting more bearable.
It is such an honor to welcome back my friend, Leslie Newman, as our guest today on Embracing the Unexpected. Leslie blogs at Journey to Imperfect. I hope you click over and take a look at her beautiful website. She has fantastic resources to share with her readers, along with inspiring words to encourage us on our daily walk with God.
How to Trust God In Your Season of Waiting
Guest Post by Leslie Newman
Waiting. It’s something we all have to deal with in life. It often seems that we find ourselves in another long and aggravating wait right about the time we believe that things will be resolved. It’s enough to make you want to give up.
Sometimes at times like this, it’s hard to remember that God’s timing is not like ours. When we follow God’s timeline, we’re often going to find ourselves in a waiting period. If you find yourself in this place today – perhaps experiencing worry and anxiety, too – here are some tips and some truths from God’s word that might help you.
Remember to Focus on God’s Character
It’s so easy to focus on our problems. We naturally tend to do that. It’s just part of our human nature. Unfortunately, this brings us down and keeps our minds racing with all the what-ifs and the unknowns. One way to get our focus in a better place is to remember the character of God. His nature and character never change. And it’s a sure thing that we can depend on.
If you face a season of waiting, an unsure future, or situations out of your control, here are a few verses to help you remember who God is and what He can do. These aspects of God’s character should remind us that we can trust Him.
God Is Our Protector
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 18:2, NKJV
God Is Our Defender
The Lord will fight for you and you shall hold your peace.
Exodus 14:14 NKJV
God Is Our Deliverer
Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him. Psalm 91:14-15, NKJV
God Will Never Forsake Us
And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.
Psalm 9:10, NKJV
There is no situation in your life that God cannot handle. He will fight for you! He will protect and defend you in all ways. His love rescues all who follow Him. He never changes. You can know without a doubt that you have all this to hold onto in trying times.
Remember God’s Faithfulness in Your Season of Waiting
Remember ways that God has already been faithful in your life. Remembering what He has already done for you will remind you that just as He has done in the past, He is still doing today. He is working in your life, even through the wait, even in this challenging time.
Make a list of the things you can remember that God has done for you. How has he answered your prayers in the past? How did He orchestrate your circumstances for good? What miracles have you experienced in your life? Think outside the box because God’s work can often be very small things that go unnoticed by others.
But you know. You’ve seen what God has done. Remember those things. They will remind you that He is with you and taking care of you through this. Put your list somewhere where you will see it often. It will help you remember His faithfulness.
He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
1 Thessalonians 5:24 NKJV
God is Always Working
Remember that God is always actively working behind the scenes. He works in ways we cannot even begin to comprehend. We are in a wait because He makes all the pieces fall into place in the very ways that He knows are best for us.
For since the beginning of the world
Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear,
Nor has the eye seen any God besides You,
Who acts for the one who waits for Him.
Isaiah 64:4
We can depend on God to act for us. He does this even as we wait. We need to let Him do His job while we do our part, which is to wait well.
The word “wait” in this verse paints a picture of the waiting we should be doing.
The Greek word is ḥāk̠â, and it packs a powerful punch. Take a look at this definition.
ḥāk̠â – extended, “strenuous” waiting that remains confident despite setbacks and apparent “delays”; (figuratively) goal-oriented waiting, clinging to the Lord during difficult times and expecting His best. This waiting refuses to “bail out early” and looks confidently to the appropriate fulfillment.*Quoted from The Discovery Bible, HELPS Word-Studies, Gary Hill 2017.
Are we in active waiting? Do we work on goals while we wait for the pieces to fall in place? Are we clinging to Jesus? Are we expecting God’s best? Wow. That’s a tough list of questions for us.
It’s challenging to wait this way, but entirely possible because of the Holy Spirit in us. Let’s be determined to remember who He is and what He can do. In the end, the Lord has already won every single battle for us, and we can trust Him in all things.
Please meet my friend Leslie Newman.
Leslie is a wife, mother to two, writer, teacher, and friend. Currently, she spends her days home educating her youngest child and working on her writing. Drop by and visit her at her blog, www.journeytoimperfect.com, where she’d love for you to join her in conversations about faith, prayer, and letting go of perfect. Leslie can be found on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
What helps you to trust God in a season of waiting?
Waiting Series
A Gift for You
This powerful prayer packet includes worksheets for using the prayer acronym T.R.U.S.T. and more. For more information, visit our “Embracing Prayer” page.
This is a great reminder of why we should take our eyes off our situation and put them onto God’s faithfulness!
Lesley,
Thank you for your comment what a wonderful reminder to keep our eyes on God’s faithfulness. Glad you stopped by. Maree
“God is always working.” May many wonderful thoughts here, but this one specifically is speaking to me this morning. I’m grateful that the Lord is always busy on our behalf!
Lisa – Yes, you pulled a great nugget out of Leslie’s article. “God is always working.” Thank you – Maree
Thank you for this encouragement, Leslie, to keep trusting God in the waiting time, knowing that His timing is always perfect. Thanks Maree Dee for hosting her words. Blessings to you both! I’m your neighbor at #InspireMeMonday.
Gayl, It was an honor to host Leslie for the second time. Thank you for stopping by and reading. Your comments always bring a smile to my heart. Glad we were neighbors again. Maree
Laura, thank you for visiting today! I loved Maree’s printable, too!
Bettie, I’m so happy that this was encouraging to you. I love the verses that God speaks into our hearts when we are in a season of waiting. Thinking of you today!
Thank you Maree and Leslie for these encouraging words! I have been in a long season of waiting, that feels at times like it will never end. But I love these Scriptures and thoughts that you have shared. Truly God is so faithful, and He is working behind the scenes to bring about His Glory. I needed these words today. Blessings to you!
Bettie, I am so glad Leslie’s words spoke to you today. Thank you for reading and commenting. It is always nice to know when something posted resonates with others. Praying for you in your waiting. Blessings, Maree
Great post! Just what I need to read as we are in a season of waiting. Thanks for the printable. I already printed it and posted by my desk.
Laura, I need to stop and get some ink on my way home so I can print it too. Leslie did a marvelous job of pulling just the right verses from the Bible. Not that any scriptures aren’t right, but these spoke to my heart. Maree
Maree,
Thank you so much for hosting me today. I love the printable and it’s hanging on my wall already. You know how much I need to be reading those verses! Thank you for your encouragement and your writing! It’s a blessing to me!
Leslie, Thank you for saying, “yes.” It truly is an honor to have your wisdom sprinkled here on my website. I appreciate you! Blessings, Maree