Waiting Because God Is Worth It
DEMI-LEIGH TEBOW
Lee en español
“Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD.” Psalm 27:14 (NASB)
After relinquishing my Miss Universe crown to the next winner, I entered a brutal waiting period. I had no idea what to do next. So much of my life up to that point had been about pageant competitions, and now that it was over, life felt hard, confusing, and out of sync.
I didn’t even know where to live — not just which city but even which continent. I considered moving from New York back to South Africa to be with my family, but my then-boyfriend, Tim, was in the States, and I didn’t want to be that far away from him.
With all these unknowns and my identity shifting, I constantly questioned my life’s purpose and felt stuck. Even small successes required a huge effort. I had few friends nearby, and Tim was playing baseball hours away, which made the world feel quite lonely. This gave me little energy to plan my future.
Needless to say, I was waiting for change, but I wasn’t seeing it.
Maybe you can relate. Have you ever been in a season where you didn’t have clarity on what to do? Or you wanted something so badly but never seemed to get any closer to having it? It’s frustrating and certainly can create anxiety, questions, and discontent.
Most of my life, I’ve viewed waiting as negative. It feels unproductive and like nothing is happening. There are often more questions than answers, and those periods seem to last forever. But I’ve more recently discovered that waiting can be a good thing. There are benefits to waiting. Often, it’s an opportunity to see life on God’s terms.
Let’s look at it differently: What if waiting is an invitation to experience God more deeply?
Our key verse, Psalm 27:14, says, “Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD.” This verse implies that waiting is not just about being patient; it’s about having active faith and trusting in God’s timing, even when we can’t see the bigger picture.
After my waiting season in New York, I learned that God was using that time to shape me, to build my character, and to teach me to rely on Him rather than my own understanding. As Proverbs 3:5-6 says: “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” (NASB).
Today, I hope to challenge your idea of what it means to wait and to encourage you into its beautiful mystery. Waiting may not be fun, but I’m learning that it is worth it.
Heavenly Father, in seasons of waiting, give me patience and strength to trust in Your perfect timing. Help me to see these moments as opportunities to deepen my faith and grow closer to You. Strengthen my character. I believe You want to do something in me! I’m available for what that is. May Your will be done in me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
OUR FAVORITE THINGS
Think of Knowing Who You Are Because of Who God Is as your faith’s new BFF, keeping you grounded, glowing, and growing every single day. Start your 100-day journey today toward unshakable faith.
ENGAGE
Bestselling author, speaker, and entrepreneur Demi-Leigh Tebow empowers women to embrace their true, God-given identity. You can stay up to date with all things Demi on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok. For exclusive content, sign up for Demi’s free five-day devotional.
Enter to WIN your very own copy of Knowing Who You Are Because of Who God Is by Demi-Leigh Tebow. To celebrate this book, Demi’s publisher will give away 5 copies! Enter to win by filling out the form here. {We’ll randomly select 5 winners and notify them via email by Monday, September 22, 2025.}
FOR DEEP STUDY
Ruth 2:2, “And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, ‘Please let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain following one in whose eyes I may find favor’” (NASB).
Ruth went gleaning in her waiting. How can you do the same? What doubts or fears tend to creep in while you’re waiting, and what can you lay at the Lord’s feet?
If waiting is an invitation to experience God more deeply, in what ways has waiting helped you grow spiritually? Share with us in the comments!
© 2025 by Demi-Leigh Tebow. All rights reserved.
