There are moments in life when it feels like heaven is quiet—when our prayers echo back in silence, our plans stall, and we’re left asking the hard question: Is God doing anything while I wait?
If you’ve ever found yourself in that space—desperate for direction, aching for resolution, wondering if your faith has been misplaced—you are in good company. Waiting has always been part of the walk of faith.
The tension of waiting isn’t a sign that God is absent. It’s an invitation to trust Him more deeply. And sometimes, what feels like delay is actually divine preparation.
The Waiting Room of Faith
Let’s be honest: We don’t like waiting. Waiting feels passive, powerless, and at times, painful. But in the Kingdom of God, waiting is never wasted. It’s where God is most actively shaping our hearts.
We ask God to move—but then we try to “help” Him along when the answer takes too long. We take back the burden we surrendered. We plot backup plans. But God doesn’t need our shortcuts. He needs our surrender.
What we often miss is this: Just because we can’t see what God is doing doesn’t mean He’s doing nothing. It means He’s doing more than we understand.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
— Isaiah 55:8
God Works in the Dark
Abraham waited. For years, the promise of a child seemed impossible. But God was faithful. Sarah laughed—but God still moved. Isaac was born, and through him, the lineage of grace continued.
Jacob, though flawed and deceitful, received the blessing. Samuel, born from the tearful prayers of Hannah, became a mighty prophet. And in the fullness of time, Mary gave birth to Jesus—the Messiah, the answer to generations of longing.
From Genesis to the Gospels, we see the same theme repeated: God is working behind the scenes, often in the silence, always in the waiting.
“Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go… I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised.”
— Genesis 28:15
Faith That Waits and Trusts Anyway
The people in the Bible weren’t perfect—they were persistent. Abraham lied, Isaac repeated mistakes, Jacob deceived. And yet, God reaffirmed His covenant again and again, not because of who they were, but because of who He is.
This is grace: unearned, unmerited, unstoppable. God isn’t surprised by our failures. He’s not deterred by our doubts. His promises stand because He stands.
As the early church father Chrysostom said:
“Many reasons for God’s designs are beyond our understanding… Hence in every case we should marvel at his wisdom and praise his ineffable love.”
Jesus: The Fulfillment of Every Promise
God’s rescue plan was never just about earthly deliverance—it was always about eternal relationship. Jesus came, not to simply answer our prayers, but to be the answer. Through the cross and resurrection, He gave us what we needed most: Himself.
“Love which stoops and sacrifices and serves, love which is kind to the unkind and generous to the ungrateful and undeserving.”
— John Stott
Jesus is the ultimate evidence that God is never passive. He stooped to our level. He walked through our pain. And He conquered death itself to secure our hope.
What God Gives in the Waiting
When you’re stuck between the prayer and the promise, remember this: the greatest gift of the gospel is not a solution—it’s a Savior. God may not always give you what you want in the time you expect, but He always gives you more of Himself.
So don’t waste the waiting. Worship in it. Lament in it. Rest in it. Let your waiting build a holy expectancy that God is doing more than you can imagine.
You are never without hope if you believe. That’s a promise Jesus died to give you.
Take Heart. God is Never Doing Nothing.
Even in the silence, His hands are at work. His heart is toward you. And His timing is still perfect.
Debbie Swindell 