Waiting on God can feel like a silent heartbreak. I remember several seasons when I thought I couldn’t bear it a moment longer, times when nothing made sense, and the silence from heaven felt deafening.
In my twenties, I was broke, building my first business, unsure of my future, and alone. There wasn’t a relationship to distract me from the ache of uncertainty. I prayed, fasted, and served others. I did my best to trust God, even when it felt like He had forgotten me. He never stopped providing, and His grace carried me through, but the waiting stretched my faith in ways I didn’t expect.
In my thirties, a different kind of waiting took hold. I was recovering from divorce, running on empty, feeling overworked and unfulfilled. Everyone else seemed to be moving forward, getting married, landing dream jobs, starting new lives, while I felt stuck. I was praying, going to therapy, journaling, doing all the things, and still… nothing. Just what felt like silence and tears.
And now, in my forties, I’m finally beginning to see it: the delay isn’t denial, it’s divine development. They say we live life forward but understand it backward, and I’m learning the truth of that more each year. Looking back, I can see God’s hand on every step, even when I couldn’t feel it.
Many prayers have been answered, not always in the ways I imagined, but often through healing, deeper trust, and a renewed perspective. I’ve stepped into meaningful work, experienced rich connection, and caught flickers of the restoration I once longed for.
But what I cherish most is this: God met me in the waiting, and He still does. I’m still believing in breakthroughs. I’m still learning to trust. And I’ve come to see that the waiting isn’t wasted. It becomes holy ground when we let it grow us.
Still, let’s be honest: If we know God is faithful, why does waiting hurt so much? Even when we believe He’s working, the silence can still feel like rejection. We may find ourselves wondering: What is God doing? Is he holding out on me?
But what if, like me, His silence is really sacred preparation?
That question brought me back to one of my favorite biblical figures: Joseph. His story, found in Genesis 37–50, is a powerful reminder of how to trust God’s timing, especially when it feels like you’re stuck in a “not yet” season. Like Joseph, that ache of wondering if God has hit pause on your life can be even more intense when people forget, reject, and betray you. When you feel you’ve done everything right and still find yourself overlooked or left behind, it’s easy to question the point of it all.
What Does the Life of Joseph Teach Us about Waiting?
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you." - 2 Peter 3:9 NIV
From the pit to the palace, Joseph endured years of disappointment and delay. But through it all, God was doing something deeper than granting his dreams. He was shaping his destiny.
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” - Genesis 50:20, NIV
3 Powerful Truths Joseph’s Life Reveals about Divine Delays
1. Waiting Builds Character Before Capacity
God was shaping Joseph into a man who could lead with strength and integrity. His promotion wasn’t random; it was rooted in years of refinement.
“Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character.” - Psalm 105:19, NLT
In the same way, our character is often formed in the quiet, hidden seasons. Before we can manage the blessing, we have to be ready to carry it. That readiness may look like emotional healing, mindset renewal, heart restoration, or even practical growth in how we lead and serve. Waiting invites us to become the kind of person who can not only receive God’s best, but sustain it. God is faithful to lead us, shape us, and strengthen us for the very thing we’ve been praying for.
2. Waiting Deepens Dependence
Joseph faced betrayal, false accusations, and imprisonment—yet Scripture tells us again and again, “The Lord was with Joseph” (Genesis 39:2, 21)
Even when God feels silent, He is never absent. In fact, seasons of waiting often become sacred ground where our dependence on Him deepens, our love for Him grows, and our appreciation of Him is found. That’s where our prayer life expands. That’s where we release control. That’s where we stop striving and start surrendering. In your wait, God is inviting you to walk with Him, not just toward your goals. He grows the roots before the fruit.
3. Waiting Precedes Multiplication
Joseph’s breakthrough wasn’t just about him—it blessed his family, nation, and generations beyond.
The same is true for you. Delays are often a setup for divine multiplication. What feels like a holding pattern might be a higher purpose unfolding. The blessing you're waiting on is often bigger than you. Your breakthrough will overflow into someone else’s answered prayer, ministry, or business. This process matters because you’re not just being prepared for promotion. You’re being prepared for impact.
3 Ways to Stay Faithful in a Season of Stillness
If you're in a waiting season, here are three practical ways to stay grounded and spiritually strong:
1. Pray with Faith, Not Frustration
We all know what it’s like to rehearse doubt and delays. But what if we flipped the script and chose to reinforce our trust instead? “God, when?” becomes “God, I trust who You are.” When we begin to believe the blessing is already on the way, we can align our mindset with His promises.
Practical Tip
Let’s speak life over our future daily. Faith grows stronger when we water it with repetition.
2. Prepare for What You’re Praying For
Waiting isn’t passive, it’s an act of trust. If God answered tomorrow, would we be ready? Let’s keep developing the skills, clearing the clutter, and putting systems in place. Our preparation shows we believe He’s coming through.
Practical Tip:
Ask yourself, “What would the future version of me do today?” and then do it.
3. Practice Presence
Let’s not let tomorrow’s dream rob us of today’s grace. What might God be doing right here, right now? Who can we love, lead, or encourage today? What blessings can we notice?
Practical Tip
Create a “daily gratitude list” or “presence check-in” to help with staying grounded in the moment. Purpose is often found in small, faithful steps.
Waiting doesn’t mean you’ve missed your moment. It means God is still at work, maybe on the outcome, but always on you. The pit isn’t the end of the story. The prison isn’t the final chapter. Like Joseph, you’re on your way to the palace. But you need to be ready when you arrive.
The real question isn’t whether God is coming through but whether we’ll keep trusting Him while we wait.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” — Romans 8:28, NIV
A Prayer for the Waiting Season
Lord,
Help me trust that your timing is perfect, even when my own feels urgent. Remind me that silence isn’t abandonment and delay isn’t denial. Help me to see what you’re calling me to do today. Who can I help, serve, or support? Lead me in your ways during this season of waiting. Shape me while I wait. Strengthen my faith. Bring the appropriate people into my life who are a part of your plan. Prepare me for what You’re preparing for me. I choose to trust You—even in the in-between.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Aleksandra Sapozhnikova
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