Waiting for God in a Busy Life

We live in a world that doesn’t wait.

Groceries can be picked up without stepping out of the car. Coffee is ordered before we leave the house. Life feels like a constant rush of doing, moving, checking, and finishing. For many of us, speed has become survival. But into our fast-paced frenzy, God speaks a countercultural word:

“No eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him.” Isaiah 64:4

Those who wait for Him.

That truth hit one active woman hard. She wrote, “I’m a doer. I don’t wait for anything. So what does it mean for someone like me to wait on God?”

If that question sounds familiar, you're not alone. So many believers struggle with what it means to wait on the Lord especially those wired to move, fix, lead, and achieve. But Scripture doesn't call us to passive stillness. It invites us into something far richer: active dependence.

What Is Biblical Waiting?

Let’s be clear biblical waiting isn’t laziness or indecision. It’s not folding your hands and watching life pass by. Rather, waiting on God is a posture of heart one that looks to God with expectancy, trusts His timing, and moves in faith without forcing outcomes.

Psalm 130:6 describes it beautifully:

“My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning.”

Waiting is about watching, not withdrawing. It’s filled with hope, anticipation, and deep inner stillness like a watchman scanning the horizon for first light.

And for the action-driven believer, this kind of waiting can become the deepest act of faith.

Seven Truths That Shape a Life of Waiting

A careful walk through Scripture reveals that waiting on the Lord is multi-dimensional. Here are seven truths that bring this into sharp focus especially for the fast-moving soul:

1. Waiting begins with pausing for God’s counsel.

“They did not wait for his counsel.” Psalm 106:13

Before making decisions, the believer waits by first seeking the Lord. Not just relying on instinct or expertise, but asking first. What would please You, Lord? What has Your Word already spoken?

Waiting often means praying before acting even when time feels short.

2. Waiting looks like trusting God's timing and character.

“Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.” Psalm 33:20

To wait is to believe that God will act faithfully even when the path forward seems delayed. It is a stillness rooted in trust, not inactivity.

3. Waiting involves eager expectation, not passive endurance.

“My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning.” Psalm 130:6

This is not lifeless waiting. It is filled with hope and longing. Waiting expects God to move, even when we don’t know when or how.

4. Waiting means resisting the urge to take control.

“Do not say, ‘I will repay evil’; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.” Proverbs 20:22

When wronged, we want to act. But waiting often means letting God bring justice, letting God vindicate, and trusting that He will handle what we cannot.

5. Waiting is trusting through silence and mystery.

“I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face.” Isaiah 8:17

Sometimes God feels distant. But waiting means not giving up when the emotions fade or clarity vanishes. Even in His silence, He is working.

6. Waiting is our posture until Christ returns.

“We wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” Romans 8:23

The Christian life is a waiting life. We groan. We long. We hope. But we wait eagerly, not despairingly. Our waiting is anchored in a sure promise. He is coming again.

7. Waiting fuels action not hinders it.

“Waiting for our blessed hope… zealous for good works.” Titus 2:13–14

Waiting doesn’t cancel movement. It shapes it. The soul that waits on God is freed to work with zeal, because it knows the outcome belongs to Him. The difference? We act from dependence, not from desperation.

What It Looks Like for the Busy Soul

For the Matties of the world the ones who thrive on productivity and purpose waiting on God doesn’t mean stopping everything. It means bringing God into everything.

Here’s what that could look like in real life:

• Before starting a new project, pause and pray: “Lord, lead me. Guide this effort. Make it fruitful in Your time.”

• In the middle of stress, whisper: “I’m not alone. I’m depending on You moment by moment.”

• When results feel slow, say: “I trust You to work while I wait. Help me act with patience, not panic.”

• At the end of a full day, reflect: “Did I rush ahead of God today? Did I move with Him or just for Him?”

Busy souls can wait for the Lord. In fact, they must or their busyness becomes a form of unbelief.

The Heart That Waits

So, how do we summarize biblical waiting?

A person who waits on God is:

• Conscious of Him all throughout the day

• Hopeful that He will act, even when it’s not obvious

• Dependent on His Spirit, not their own strength

• Patient in delay, confident in promise

• Zealous for good works, yet free from self-reliance

This is not weak. This is not passive. This is powerful. “Blessed are all who wait for him.” Isaiah 30:18

Waiting isn’t doing nothing. It’s doing the right thing with a heart aligned to God’s will, trusting His pace, longing for His presence, and expecting His help.

Let that be the rhythm of your life.

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