Often, when we hope to learn how to wait on God, we want a patient attitude, a trust in our Lord, and a calmness that soothes like no other. However, patience with God takes courage, strength, and fortitude, which builds your faith in Him.
The more effort you place in this endeavor, the better you will get at it. It’s like learning to play the piano. You typically can’t become a musical mastermind overnight. Instead, you must learn the art of music and practice. Those are just two steps in becoming a brilliant pianist.
As you learn to wait on God, you will discover that this endeavor involves trusting in His timing, the acceptance of His will, and the surrender to His ultimate plan for your life, even if you are facing difficult situations or a long waiting time. Recognize that He is working behind the scenes.
Let’s take a more detailed look at what it means to wait on God and what you can do.
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Learn How to Wait on God (Top 10 Ways)
As you learn how to wait on God, you will build perseverance and character. These will be things that will help you grow spiritually and be a strong example to others.
#1. Give yourself grace.
Patience or learning to wait gracefully takes quite a bit of, well, grace. If you know the different kinds of grace, you will also know that there are many types. In fact, one type involves giving yourself grace. Ease up on those expectations, and be reasonable with your goals.
#2. Learn who God is.
If you want to learn how to wait on God, you need to learn who God is. One way to do this is to study His commandments and promises. Here are some key questions you can ask yourself while you study the Bible so that you can learn who God is:
- What does this passage tell me about who God is?
- What do I think God looks like?
- How does God show love here?
- In what ways is God speaking to me here?
- How can I emulate God more in my day-to-day life?
- Who is God to me?
- What characteristics do I learn about God in this passage?
- How can I grow spiritually by learning this trait of God’s?
“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” – Psalm 27:14
#3. Surrender all.
Being patient with God is about trusting His plan for your life, especially when you can’t see the big picture. We want to see the big picture. We want to know how our life will turn out (most of us do, anyway). A big part of surrendering to God is letting go.
This means that you must surrender your anxieties, insecurities, and fears. Trust that God will guide you through any challenges that come your way. If you doubt Him and His abilities, you will lose out on the hope that He has in store for you – the hope of eternal life.
“But they 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.” – Isaiah 40:31
#4. Trust His timing.
God has a specific plan for my life. He has one for yours, too. We are each different in our own ways. The way His plan works out will likely be a surprise. We don’t know what to expect. Sure, we can plan all we desire, but that doesn’t mean that life will turn out that way.
Learning how to wait on God involves trusting that His timing is always perfect and that He knows what is best for you, even if you don’t understand His plan for your life or where it is going. I have to do the same when it comes to my life! It’s not an easy path.
#5. Pray about it.
Prayer is a critical component of one’s faith. If you are waiting on God for something, pray about it. After that, pray about it again. Continue to pray about the issue until you receive an answer. While I hate to say this, sometimes, we do not receive His answer in this lifetime.
Often, the act of waiting alone will help you increase the amount of patience you have. For example, if you are waiting in line at the supermarket with 10 people ahead of you, it can be annoying. However, if there are 8 people tomorrow, it might not be so painful.
The point here is that you are learning patience, which will help you grow as a person. Prayer is powerful. Grab a notebook, and just pray your heart out. If you need to devote one whole notebook to this issue, pray until your fingers hurt. God listens to our prayers!
An easy way to remember this tip is the word PUSH. Pray Until Something Happens. The key point here is to trust God and continue to pray. Something will change someday. It might not be what you expected, but it will happen, so trust in our Lord and Savior.
“The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.” – Lamentations 3:25
#6. Accept discomfort as part of growth.
There are actually two points I could make here. For one, having to wait is not a pleasant activity for most people. We want what we want – here and now. We don’t want to wait, but waiting, as uncomfortable as it is, will help you grow as a person.
The second point is that discomfort builds your tolerance. It’s similar to going to the gym. When you first do a workout, you are sore and don’t feel like repeating the action. However, after a while, you become a gym junkie. You have mastered the skills you once dreaded.
#7. Be devoted to God.
When you are making a decision and that frustration kicks in, remember your devotion to our God. Think of all of the powerful things that He has done in your life and what He could do next. We can’t predict the future. We don’t know what will happen next, and that can cause anxiety.
Sometimes, we just want to know how things will turn out for you. If God is the center of your life – your devotion and focus – and you live for Him, trust what He is doing behind the scenes. Know that He has your back. He will keep you safe. His plan is superior to yours.
“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His Word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.” – Psalm 130:5-6
#8. Accept His Will.
When it comes to being patient for the Lord, you will soon realize that it involves accepting that we may not always get what we want, but He will provide our needs if we trust Him. That means surrendering to His Will, even if it contradicts what you really want. His way is always better.
#9. Trust His promises.
Trusting God in difficult times can be exhausting. However, if you truly put your life in His hands and believe that He will do what’s best for your life, rather than being exhausted, you’ll find yourself relieved and relaxed. When you trust someone, it’s like a sigh of relief.
#10. Recognize His patience with you.
God is patient with you, even if you are not patient with Him in the way that you should be.
By recognizing God’s patience, you are better able to emulate His example in your life and be patient with the other people you are around on a daily basis.
Related: How to Be Patient in a Relationship
#11. Embrace challenges as learning opportunities.
No matter what path you are on, you will certainly experience challenges and suffering. We all have ups and downs, which make life hard. Realize that those moments (the challenges we don’t want to face) will make you stronger. You can do this. Trust God and His plan!
“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!” – Psalm 37:7
#12. Recognize His patience with others.
While you can easily check out the lives of other Christians to see how God is patient, you can also turn to Bible study.
In Genesis 6, you can read the story of Noah, who built the ark before the flood came. He had to wait a very long time before the flood came. A lot of patience was involved in his story.
Another one of my favorite examples from the Bible of someone who exhibited patience is Hannah. She was the mother of Samuel. You can find her story in 1 Samuel 1-2. She desperately wanted a child, but she was unable to have one.
When she faithfully prayed to God and trusted Him, He gave her a baby. She then dedicated this baby to the Lord and went on to have many more children.
Probably my favorite example of someone God had patience with was Moses. I’m currently doing an in-depth study of Exodus, and it’s amazing how frustrated God must have been. Moses had one excuse after another as to why he could not serve God as a leader.
Of course, we know that Moses became a great leader who led the people of Israel across the Red Sea and saved them from Egyptian slavery. God was gentle and patient with Moses, when He certainly could have given up and found someone more eager and qualified.
“Be still, and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10
#13. Turn to a spiritual mentor or leader.
Most spiritual leaders or mentors are happy to help you on your path. If you have questions or need examples from the Word of God, they will provide you with the answers that you need to grow. You can likely find a person like this in a Bible study group or at your church.
#14. Engulf yourself in His Word.
We’ve talked a bit about getting to know God better. Since He does not stand in front of us to speak, we need to turn Bible study into a passion of ours. After all, those are His words and how He speaks to us. Get to know the Word – front and back.
#15. Look at your answered prayers.
I love reviewing my prayer journals or notebooks. It shows me God’s faithfulness. I am reminded of what was once important to me, what I begged for, and what I wanted or thought I needed in the past. Finally, it shows me what God did – whether it was my will or His.
If you are interested in trying this tip, be sure to get yourself a FREE prayer tracker. You can also create your own, if you are so inclined. This is a great way to see what you prayed for in the past and realize how God answered your prayers today.
Conclusion
Did you learn how to wait on God from this article? Which strategy will you try? Often, when we try more than one thing, we succeed. I love multitasking, personally, even though I’ve read it is less effective. What do you think? How do you wait on God? Leave a comment!
“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I hope.” – Psalm 130:5
