When Waiting Feels Like Wasting

When Time Feels Like a Long Red Light

Waiting is one of the hardest places to live.
Not because nothing’s happening — but because it feels like nothing’s happening.

You’ve prayed. You’ve done what you know to do. You’ve shown up, trusted, and waited for the breakthrough. But the breakthrough still hasn’t come.

And somewhere in the middle, that waiting starts to feel less like a holy pause and more like you’re stuck at the world’s longest red light with no idea when it will turn green.

My Season of Slow Answers

I remember a season when I was waiting on an answer that felt like it would never come. It wasn’t a small thing — it was the kind of prayer you whisper through tears at night, the kind you think about in the car, the kind you wake up wondering about.

I told myself I was “trusting God,” but secretly, I was checking my mental watch. Every month that passed felt heavier. The longer it went on, the more I started to wonder if I had missed something — a sign, a step, a chance to speed this up.

And honestly? I started to believe the lie that my waiting was wasted. That maybe I was stuck here because I had done something wrong… or maybe because God had forgotten about me.

What Waiting Really Reveals

Waiting has a way of exposing our expectations. We think we’re waiting for the thing — the answer, the solution, the miracle — but really, waiting reveals what we believe about God.

If I’m honest, I wanted God to work on my timeline. I wanted proof He was moving, even if the end wasn’t here yet. But so often, God works in ways I can’t see, and the quiet of waiting feels like absence when it’s actually preparation.

Psalm 27:14 says, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
It doesn’t say if the Lord will come through — it tells us to wait for Him. The point of waiting isn’t just the thing we’re waiting for. The point is that we’re learning to trust Him.

In that long middle stretch, I realized God wasn’t just working on the circumstances I was praying about — He was working on me. He was growing my faith muscles, teaching me to keep walking when I couldn’t see the road ahead, and reminding me that His presence was my provision even before my prayer was answered.

Four Ways to Wait Without Wasting the Wait

1. Name what you’re waiting for — and what it’s costing you.
Be honest with God about what you want and how it feels to wait for it. This isn’t complaining; it’s prayer that makes space for His comfort and truth to meet you in the middle.

2. Look for “in the meantime” miracles.
They might be small — a conversation that encourages you, a moment of unexpected provision, a shift in your own heart. These are mile markers reminding you that you’re still on the road.

3. Anchor to God’s character, not your calendar. His timing rarely matches ours, but His goodness doesn’t expire. When impatience creeps in, remind yourself of who He’s been to you before — faithful, kind, and present.

4. Keep showing up. Don’t stop living while you’re waiting. Keep serving, loving, laughing, resting. Waiting is part of the story, not a pause on your life.

God Is Still Moving, Even If You Can’t See It

The enemy loves to convince us that silence means God isn’t speaking, that stillness means He isn’t moving. But the truth? God’s work is often invisible until suddenly it isn’t — and then we can look back and see that every moment of waiting was woven into His plan.

If you’re there right now — in that uncomfortable middle — hear this: You are not behind. You are not forgotten. And you are not wasting your life. God is not late, and this season is not wasted.

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:14)

For the One Who’s Waiting Right Now

Take a deep breath. Loosen your grip on the timeline you thought you needed. And know this — you’re not waiting alone. The God who started the work in you hasn’t put you on hold; He’s holding you steady until the miracle comes.

Keep Going — You’re Not Alone in This

If you need daily reminders of hope while you wait, I’ve created a free “Hope in the Middle” printable prayer guide. It’s filled with short prayers, verses, and prompts to help you stay anchored in God’s presence during the in-between seasons.

Download Your Free Prayer Guide Here ➡️