Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him. – Psalm 37:7

We don’t like to wait.

Whether it’s for the traffic light to turn green, for a text message to come through, or for a prayer to be answered, our natural instinct is to rush. We live in a culture of instant gratification. Since the invention of the microwave oven, we’ve been on the fast-track to speed through life, and with the hustle, we’ve lost our patience.

We expect everything nearly instantly now. And when we don’t get it, frustration grows, anxiety builds, and we start to believe that delays mean denial, that stillness equals stagnation. But I have found over and over in my life that in the times I felt like nothing was happening, I can look back and see that it was in those times that God was doing the biggest, deepest work in and around and through me… in the waiting.

The truth is, we’re not just waiting for time to pass. We’re being prepared. God doesn’t waste the wait. He uses it to shape our character, to refine our desires, and to draw us closer to Him. In the pause, He invites us to slow down, to trust, and to listen. All of that takes patience, not just with others, but with ourselves.

So what can we do in the waiting?

Pray honestly. Tell God how you feel. Waiting can be hard. But honest prayers open the door to peace.

Practice gratitude. While we wait for what’s next, we can be thankful for what is.

Serve others. Sometimes the best way to shift our focus from what we lack is to help meet someone else’s need.

Reflect on Scripture. Let God’s promises remind you that He is never late, even when we feel delayed.

Rest. Yes, rest. Waiting isn’t wasted when it draws us to real rest in Him.

Why are we rushing our lives away? Maybe because we think worth is measured in busyness, or success is defined by speed. Friends, Jesus didn’t rush. He walked. He paused. He spent 30 years in quiet preparation before three years of public ministry.

We all need a little more patience… patience with the people who annoy us, patience with our own journey, and patience to believe that even in the delays, God is doing something good. Take a breath. Take a break. Worship God today for all that He is doing in your life. Happy Sunday! 😊