We’ve all been there—stuck in seasons of waiting. Maybe you’re longing for a breakthrough in your life, waiting for God to answer a prayer, or seeking clarity for your next step. Waiting can feel endless and unproductive, but the Bible teaches us something powerful: waiting on the Lord isn’t about twiddling our thumbs or sitting idly by. It’s about trust, service, and spiritual renewal.
What Does It Mean to Wait on the Lord?
Isaiah 40:31 says, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
This verse isn’t about passive waiting. The word “wait” here is more like serving in a restaurant—actively attending to others’ needs while trusting in God’s timing. When you wait on the Lord, you are serving Him by serving His people, remaining faithful in your responsibilities, and preparing for the fulfillment of His promises.
Waiting in faith involves seeking opportunities to glorify God even when circumstances don’t align with your expectations. It’s trusting that His plans will unfold at the right time, and in the meantime, you are called to act with purpose.
The Active Waiting Process
Waiting on God is not about sitting in life’s waiting room doing nothing. It’s about using that time productively to grow, learn, and serve. Think of Simeon and Anna from Luke 2. Both spent decades faithfully serving in the temple, waiting for the Messiah. Their patience wasn’t passive; it was rooted in worship and trust.
Similarly, during waiting periods, we’re called to stay active in our faith:
- Serve others: Volunteer for tasks that need to be done, especially ones no one else wants.
- Grow spiritually: Engage in worship, study God’s Word, and pray with expectation.
- Learn new skills: Use the waiting season to invest in your personal or spiritual development.
The key is to stay engaged and obedient, knowing that God’s timing is perfect, even when it doesn’t align with our own desires.
Lessons from Eagles
Isaiah uses the imagery of eagles to teach us about renewal and transformation. Did you know that eagles periodically shed their feathers, renew their beaks, and regain strength? This metaphor reminds us that God can use waiting seasons to renew and strengthen us.
An eagle’s renewal process involves a stripping away of the old to make way for the new. The bird will pluck its feathers, sharpen its talons, and even reshape its beak against the rocks. This painful but necessary process results in greater agility, sharper vision, and renewed strength.
Similarly, God uses seasons of waiting to transform us. Trusting God through this process enables us to rise above life’s storms, just like eagles soar effortlessly through the skies.
Trusting in God’s Timing
Trusting God’s timing is hard, especially when you don’t see immediate results. But as the sermon highlighted, God is never late. His timing is always perfect, even when it feels like He’s delayed.
Faithful waiting often results in blessings beyond what we can imagine. One pastor shared how he and his wife conceived a child after years of infertility. They had resigned themselves to serving God without children, yet in the process of fully dedicating their lives to Him, God answered their deepest prayer.
This story reminds us that God’s blessings often come when we least expect them, but they are always right on time.
How to Stay Spiritually Productive While You Wait
Here are three practical ways to deepen your faith and stay engaged during waiting seasons:
1. Worship and Magnify God
Worship shifts your focus from your problems to God’s greatness. As you worship, your view of God expands, and so does your faith. Psalm 34:3 says, “Magnify the Lord with me.” Worship transforms your perspective, helping you trust God’s ability to meet your needs.
Magnification brings clarity. When you focus on God’s character, His power becomes more evident in your life. Worship reminds you of His faithfulness and strengthens your belief that He can do exceedingly more than you could ask or imagine.
2. Serve with a Willing Heart
Whether it’s taking on a thankless task at church or helping a friend in need, serving others draws you closer to God. Jesus said in Matthew 25:40, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
Look for opportunities to serve, even if they seem small or unnoticed. Acts of service align your heart with God’s and remind you that every act done in His name has eternal value.
3. Speak Boldly About Your Faith
Waiting on God doesn’t mean keeping quiet about your journey. Share your testimony with others, even when life feels uncertain. Speaking about God’s goodness strengthens your faith and encourages those around you.
Faith isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about trusting in God’s promises. By sharing your faith, you can inspire others to keep believing, even in their own waiting seasons.
The Rewards of Faithful Waiting
Waiting on God has eternal rewards. Those who faithfully serve during life’s delays experience supernatural strength, as Isaiah promises. They find renewed energy to face challenges, soaring above obstacles like eagles on the wind. God also blesses those who trust Him, often in unexpected ways.
Take inspiration from the older members of a congregation who, despite their age, contributed tirelessly to building a church. Their faith and perseverance show that God’s strength transcends physical limitations. They waited on the Lord by serving Him, and their legacy continues to inspire others.
Waiting Like Simeon and Anna
The stories of Simeon and Anna highlight the beauty of unwavering faith. Simeon held onto God’s promise that he would see the Messiah before his death. Anna, a widow, spent decades in the temple, worshiping and serving. Both waited with hope, and their patience was rewarded when they encountered Jesus.
These examples remind us that waiting on the Lord isn’t passive. It’s an active demonstration of faith, hope, and trust. When we commit to serving God during our waiting periods, we position ourselves to receive His blessings in His perfect timing.
Conclusion: Waiting Is Serving
Waiting on the Lord isn’t about standing still. It’s about moving forward in faith, trusting God’s timing, and serving others as an act of worship. When you focus on what you can do for God and others during your waiting season, you’ll find renewed strength, purpose, and blessings.
So, the next time you’re waiting on God, ask yourself, “How can I serve Him today?” Because it’s in the serving that you find the strength to soar.
Pastor Dennis felt called into ministry at a young age when he was miraculously healed of a speech impediment at a gospel revival. While other kids were playing cops and robbers, Dennis was playing church with his brother, David and sister, Dee. He married his beautiful bride, Sharon in 1973 and began working his way through college, majoring in Biblical Studies at Tomlinson College. He pursued every opportunity for ministry from traveling evangelism to running youth camps to serving as senior pastor in several churches across Tennessee. All while continuing his education and ultimately receiving his Doctor of Philosophy in Ministry Science from Great Plains Baptist Divinity School in 2001.
Today he enjoys pastoring Grace Community Church and mentoring the next generation of leaders. In his spare time, he enjoys every minute he and Sharon get to spend with their 5 grandchildren.
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