A Gift For Those Who Wait
Welcome to The Overflow! I’m glad you’re here. If you’re new, I hope you’ll linger a while. Enjoy a few tales from the trenches and be buoyed by God’s Word. For more encouragement meet me on Facebook or read my devotion at Proverbs 31 Ministries today. Better yet, we could meet face to face! I’d love to speak at your next ministry event. Check out my speaking page for details or contact me at overflow@aliciabruxvoort.net
“How much longer, Lord?” I cried as I hung up the phone and slunk to the floor in a loud lament.
The adoption journey we’d been on for years had hit another roadblock, and the only ache that hurt more than my empty arms was the ache of discouragement that swelled in my soul.
I knew God could turn our waiting into celebrating, so why hadn’t He yet?
I was glad I was home alone. I needed space to cry and shout, question and doubt; space to bring my quivering faith to the One who has promised to be faithful.
I was tired of detours, tired of believing without seeing, tired of waiting for prayers to be answered and promises to be fulfilled.
But as I sat in my sorrow, I knew I had a choice.
I couldn’t change my circumstances or circumvent my delay. I couldn’t answer my own prayers or trump God’s timing.
But I could choose whether or not I was going to trust God in my waiting.
Would I let this wait develop my faith or devour it? Buoy my hope or destroy it?
Maybe you’ve stared at the same choice through a film of frustrated tears.
If so, we’re in good company, dear friend.
Waiting may sound like a passive pastime. But it demands an active decision. Often daily. Sometimes hourly. Or even moment by moment–
Will we trust God’s ways in our discouraging delays?
Of course, we aren’t the first of God’s children to be faced with this choice.
Noah had to decide if he would trust God as he built an ark in the desert with no rain clouds in sight.
Abraham had to decide if he would trust God for an heir even when his wife remained barren and his body grew old.
Joseph had to decide if he would trust God with his dreams even when he was sold into slavery and forgotten in a prison cell.
David had to decide if he would trust God to place him on the throne even when he was hiding in a cave and running for his life in the wilderness.
When we listen to scripture’s sprawling story, we hear the whispers of waiters echoing from every nook and cranny of God’s timeless tale.
The suffering wait for relief. The captives wait to be set free. The desperate wait for miracles; the blind wait to see.
The Bible is a story of waiting and anticipating, it’s true. But it’s also a story of moving from strength to strength, from glory to glory (Psalm 84:7).
Over and over again, we see God using the threads of delay to strengthen His people rather than sink them—if they are wiling to trust Him.
Isaiah 40:31 rings with hope for all of who wait.
“…those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
But this well-known verse is more than just a cheerleader’s chant to raise our morale or a bumper sticker to bolster our resolve. It’s actually a gracious glimpse into God’s powerful purpose for our seasons of waiting.
In its original language, the word used for strength in this verse is quvah, which means: “to bind together.”
We often fear our waiting will unravel us; but this beautiful word reminds us that God can use our waiting to bind us to His strength.
Whether we like it or not, it’s in the depths of delay where our faith can gain traction. It’s in the middle of the waiting where we learn how to put our trust into action.
In our waiting, we learn how to turn God’s promises into prayers.
Hebrews 10:23: Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.
In our waiting, we learn how to acknowledge God’s wisdom instead of demanding our own way.
Proverbs 3:5: Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
In our waiting, we learn how to remember God’s faithfulness instead of questioning his fairness.
Psalm 77:11: But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.
In our waiting, we learn how to accept God’s timing instead of disputing his plan.
Acts 1:7: Timing is the Father’s business
And, little by little, as we make the choice to lean the weight of our trust on the crux of God’s character, we discover an unexpected gift:
The delay we feared would upend us has bound us to the only One who can uphold us.
And in that sacred space where God’s faithfulness and our hope are twined, we find strength in the waiting.
The Bible is filled with promises for our seasons of waiting. Grab my free printable called PROMISES FOR THOSE WHO WAIT and be encouraged in the midst of delay. (I love to turn these promises into prayers or speak them aloud when my trust is feeling shaky). Get your copy here.
How are you waiting on God right now? Let us know in the comments so we can pray for you!
I prayed for another child for ten years. It was agony. Then through foster care we ended up adopting 3 children. And then, a newborn baby through a miracle 24 hours. 5 years later I was divorced and alone with those 4 children with emotional damage. It’s been 12 years since then. My last baby is nearly 17 now. I learned amazing patience in waiting. Now, I am facing medical issues. I’m alone and decided to set aside dating because I tried too hard to find “him”. After 2 rounds with cancer I am now facing two weeks in Dallas with many tests to discover why I just keep getting sicker and sicker. I’m scared. I am not searching for him anymore. Instead I work for a nonprofit with the homeless as a Shelter Director and Case Manager. I pour myself into my son and my work and get up every day literally pouring myself out of bed suffering from pain head to toe. These times are the loneliest for me. I’m perfectly content with whatever God has for me but even still, I’m human and I long for someone to love who loves God more than me. When you are ill with chronic pain, that time is isolating felling alone and lonely. This article reminded me that I waited for ten years for my babies. I remembered today that that same strength can be applied here as I wait for answers and for someone to love. Thank you.
Oh, Jillian, I am so sorry for the pain and loneliness you’re experiencing. I’m praying for you right now– for renewed strength, for peace, for answers and healing, for a keen awareness of the Holy Spirit’s tender presence and a fresh encounter with Jesus’ relentless love.
What a blessing to read words of truth and encouragement. I have been waiting 7 years for God to bring a godly man into my life, I want to be married and share my life with someone who loves the Lord like I do. Nothing….it’s been so lonley and sad, and I have begged God to take the desire out of my heart…still nothing…am I to just stop wanting and praying ? Or am I to keep praying and believing that He will one day answer my prayers…I know what His word says…I just can’t here a “straight answer” If He doesn’t want me ever to marry again….I will live and trust in that…and stop yearning for what will never be. If He is going to provide a husband, then I will keep praying and waiting and trusting….I am not good with patience….I have broke many “Tea Pots” in my life…I am 60…lol. I just need to know…Give up and move forward, or Hold on and keep praying for a husband?
This is not my first waiting period, I had waited 6 years, 5 miscarriages, a surgery and 1 lost adoption for my beautiful baby girl, was bed ridden for 4 months to keep her, and finally 1/1/91 she was born, beautiful , perfect and healthy. God is a very gracious and giving God. He had answered my prayers, she a beautiful Christ- centered wife and mother today…I am so grateful. This waiting just seems so much harder …I am so lonley for and I am so much older. Maybe to old…I just wished I knew . Thank you for listening…(Covid has made it even lonlier) Any words from you would be very welcomed. In His Love, Peggy
Peggy, I wish I could reach across the screen and give you a hug. Waiting IS so hard. And add a global pandemic to the ache of waiting–and we’ve got plenty of opportunities to engage in “tea pot” breaking moments. I am praying that God will give you an inexplicable resolve for trusting Him even when you can’t figure out what He’s doing. I love hearing about your perseverance in prayer and God’s answered prayer that came in the gift of your daughter! I won’t pretend to understand what God is doing as you wait for him to answer your prayer for a godly mate, but I do know that the same God who gave you your daughter hears your prayers now. He is faithful. He loves you. He’s with you.
Thank you for the inspiring article! So much needed it and such a great reminder of God’s promises. God knows your hearts desires….please keep me in prayer. Thanks, God bless.
Lydia, I am praying for you right now– trusting God knows the cry of your heart and the depth of your needs. May you experience His nearness and be awed by His goodness today.
Thank you, Alicia, for this insightful devotion and look into Scripture. God used your words to speak directly to my heart today about the waiting my husband and I have been going through in ministry. So many times my husband has been ready to give up, but he hasn’t felt God’s release yet. Instead, God’s Spirit is leading us in a time of waiting and encouraging us to continue in faithful service to Him. Thank you again for your beautiful way you weave words into wonderful stories and life lessons. God bless you.
Andrea, waiting on release is some of the hardest waiting I’ve ever done. I understand the tension of that kind of waiting. It hurts. It’s exhausting and it’s downright confusing sometimes. I’m praying for you and your husband right now and asking Him to give you whatever you need to continue walking faithfully in the calling He’s placed on your life and to continue trusting Him for release when the time is right. May His Spirit encourage you as you keep serving Him and trusting His plan.
Thanks for your timely reminder as I do get weary in the waiting. I am a single mom and desires to get married, sometimes it just seems like a dream that will never happen, but I am trusting God that all good and perfect gift comes from Him, and he says no good thing will he without from those who walk blameless….
I am also trusting God for a new job.
Alicia your devotional as always blessed me.
Giving God thanks for your ministry.
Marcia, I’m sorry for the ache in the waiting. It’s real. And it’s wearisome. I’m trusting God with you and asking Him to encourage you right where you’re at, to meet you in these exhausting places of waiting and to encourage you in a personal and powerful way. Thanks for encouraging me with your kind words today, too
Thank you for your timely reminder. Still struggle but then God draws me back to his promises. My emotions are my biggest hurdle.
Cheryl, I can relate so well to your words. I know firsthand how emotions try to erode my trust. I keep asking God for more faith to trust His word. I’m praying for you now—may the power of God’s promises be your anchor even when your emotions are a pendulum 🙂
Your devotions continue to touch me! I’ve been waiting a while to see a prayer come to fruition and I continue to trust. Some days it’s harder when it seems there’s a delay but I remind myself I turned this over to the Lord and HIS way is best. Thanks for that reminder today!
Thanks for taking time to linger here, Brenda. May God give you the desire of your heart!
Alicia, thank you for this timely devotional. There have been many times God has made me wait and it feels as if He had abandoned me. Yet, as I look back, I can see how He used those times to mold me and bring me to a place of trust so I can have a peace that the world cannot give. Now, as I am in yet another time of waiting, I am not fretting as much as I used to (I am still human and have moments of fretting, but not in the way I used to where I began to doubt). I have also found that sharing what I am going through during those times with those who can pray with and for me helps to lift much of the burden from me.
I love all the scripture passages you shared!! Here is one that has helped me when I struggle with the waiting:
Psalm 37:3-6 (NIV)
Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.
Velva, I LOVE this passage of scripture. I just prayed it aloud over both of us. May God give you strength and peace in the waiting.