How to Find Biblical Joy When You Are in a Time of Waiting

“I do know that waiting on God requires the willingness to bear uncertainty, to carry within oneself the unanswered question, lifting the heart to God about it whenever it intrudes upon one's thoughts. It is easy to talk oneself into a decision that has no permanence – easier sometimes than to wait patiently.” Elisabeth Elliot 

Waiting for something that has been your deepest heart longing and desire can be exceedingly difficult, can’t it? Especially when it is a “blind” waiting – a time when you really have no idea what to expect or if you will ever see your desire fulfilled. You have made your desires known to God, and there is no answer given, so all you can do is wait and trust the only One that has the power to provide you with what you have asked him for. 

Can a person have joy when something they desperately want has been withheld? Can a single person have joy while they wait for God to provide a spouse? Can a young woman be joyful when waiting for God to provide her with a child? Can you have joy when you are waiting for the right job to come your way? Can you have joy when you are waiting to buy your first home, wondering why you are in a job you do not like that much, or waiting for God to bring healing to someone you love? How can you have joy in these tough times of waiting or when your request has been denied, either temporarily or permanently? 

Verses to Help You When You Are in a Time of Waiting 

Psalm 27:14 “Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”

If you take time to remind yourself of Who it is that you are waiting on to do whatever it is that only he can do, there can be a sense of encouragement as you choose to focus on what his Word says. You will be reminded that he is God and knows what is best for you. He is the only one who has the power to do anything he wants to do. If something is withheld, it must be for a reason you know nothing about. Be strong, and let your heart take courage! He is God. All things that enter your life are for your good and his glory!

Psalm 130:5-6 “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.”  

We must wait on God as if we are exhausted while waiting for the first ray of the sunrise after working a long and tiring nightshift, and as one who is suffering from intense physical pain and is waiting for that first wave of relief. We must long for, eagerly anticipate an answer, and put our hope in God alone. Our rest and relief can only be found in him. Wait for the Lord and hope in his Word. 

Isaiah 40:31“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.” 

Waiting on God does not mean we impatiently wait for what we want God to do with our arms folded in front of us, our eyes rolling, and breathing a heavy sigh. Waiting on God in a way that honors him is done with an actual sense of rest that can only be experienced when we focus on God and who he is, confidently acknowledging that he is the One who is in charge. We need to believe, in our heart of hearts, that he is able and powerful enough to do what needs to be done and that his timing is best. Fully and completely focusing on and waiting on, he will renew your strength and help you not to become weary or fainthearted. 

Isaiah 55:8,9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

This is such a straightforward verse that puts all of life into perspective! God’s thoughts and ways are higher than anything we can comprehend with our human mind. The things that we desire and ask God to do - the things that make sense to us - look completely different to God from his perspective. He always knows what is best. We can trust him even when we do not understand his ways.

What Good Comes When You Are in a Time of Waiting 

• You are given an opportunity to learn to trust in God in a new and much deeper way when you are waiting and do not know if or when your desires are going to be met. This time will grow you in a way that no other time can grow you.
• You are given an opportunity to willingly relinquish what you might want or think is best and get your heart aligned with his. This will eventually lead you to a place of peace and being content with whatever the outcome might be.
• You have an opportunity to practice living one day at a time and being faithful to the moments you have been given rather than living with your eyes on the future and what it is that you want God to provide for you or for him to make happen. 

Find Biblical Joy by Focusing on God 

1. Thank Him for Who He Is: 

Father, thank you for being an omniscient God – You are the One who has perfect knowledge of all things and knows the future and how all things are going to play out. Because of that reality, I know I can trust you with all my wants and desires, big and small. Thank you. 

2. Thank Him for His Faithfulness: 

Father, thank you for being a faithful Father. One who has never failed me even one time in my lifetime and one who has never, ever forgotten me. I know you will be faithful in the future in the same way you have been faithful in the past. I trust you.

3. Thank Him for His Promises: 

Father, thank you for your promises that tell me you work all things for my good, know what is best, and that your ways are perfect. I may not understand, but I trust your heart and your perfect plan. 

4. Thank Him for His Provisions: 

Father, thank you for how you have provided for me in every way for all my life. Thank you for this waiting time and that you are preparing me for all that is ahead. Thank you for reminding me and assuring me that you always have a much better plan than I could ever imagine.

To learn more about how to choose biblical joy, check out my book “Everyday Prayers for Joy”!

For weekly encouragement on how to choose biblical joy in all circumstances, subscribe to “Choose Biblical Joy Today”

This article is part of a series by Gina Smith on biblical joy. Here are more of her articles:

How to Find Biblical Joy When You Face Life Changes

How to Find Biblical Joy When You Have Been Treated Unfairly

How to Find Biblical Joy When You Battle Depression

Finding Biblical Joy in Loneliness

How to Find Biblical Joy When Life Doesn’t Look the Way You Thought it Would

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