If you force it, you might break it.
In a culture driven by speed, productivity, and instant results, the idea of waiting can feel almost unbearable—like a frustrating waste of time. We live in what often feels like the future, where waiting is rarely necessary. From fast food to streaming entertainment to AI tools that deliver answers in seconds, we’ve grown accustomed to immediate gratification. And over time, that expectation quietly seeps into our spiritual lives. We start treating God like a divine Siri or Alexa—someone who should respond on demand, giving us what we want, when we want it.
But Scripture invites us into a different rhythm entirely. Time and again, the Bible calls us not to rush ahead in our own strength or force outcomes, but to wait on God. It’s a quiet, countercultural command that echoes through the Psalms, the prophets, and even the life of Jesus Himself. And waiting doesn’t mean doing nothing—it means actively trusting the One who sees the full picture.
And that’s exactly where the problem lies: we don’t see the full picture. Still, that doesn’t stop us from making decisions in haste. Wisdom may whisper, “Wait,” but our fear of missing out often screams louder. We fixate on what we might lose if we don’t act now, instead of considering what we might destroy by acting too soon. Because when we push ahead too fast, we don’t just risk making a bad decision—we risk making a damaging one. We break things that were never meant to be forced.
What might we break? Whether it’s the fracturing of relationships or the ruining of an opportunity, our inability to rein in our desires can destroy the very thing we’re trying to obtain. Whether it’s something better or simply different, forcing a decision can result in getting the very thing we wanted—but never actually needed. All too often, we treat our decisions like emergencies when they aren’t. We force a door that God never opened, or break a window out of fear of what might happen if we don’t act fast.
We’re good at creating narratives that justify our haste—stories that make our impulsive choices seem wise, even when they’re clearly foolish. My father once gave me a piece of advice I’ve never forgotten—what he called “the Rule of 3.” If the decision has to be made this month, wait three weeks. If it has to be made this week, wait three days. If it has to be made today, wait three hours. If it needs to be made this hour, wait three minutes. You get the idea: slow down.
Now, God is certainly big enough to redeem our missteps and mistakes. But He calls us to wait for a reason. Sometimes He allows our plans to “work out” in the same way a parent might let a child touch a candle—knowing the pain will teach what words could not.
1. To Strengthen Our Faith | “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength…” — Isaiah 40:31
Waiting isn’t wasted time—it’s strengthening time. God often uses seasons of waiting to build spiritual endurance, patience, and resilience. It’s in the waiting that our trust muscles grow.
2. To Align Us with His Will | “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him…” — Psalm 37:7
When we rush ahead, we often act out of impulse or self-interest. Waiting gives God the space to shape our desires and align our hearts with His, not just chase what we think is best.
3. To Prepare Us for What’s Coming | “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.” — 1 Peter 5:6
God’s delays are often a form of preparation. Whether it’s building maturity, character, humility, or skill, He uses the waiting to get us ready for what He already has in mind.
4. To Protect Us from Harm | “The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.” — Lamentations 3:25
Sometimes the thing we’re chasing isn’t just premature—it’s dangerous. God may ask us to wait not as a punishment, but as protection from something we can’t yet see.
5. To Reveal His Glory in a Bigger Way | “Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?’” — John 11:40
In the delay of Lazarus’s resurrection, Jesus wasn’t late—He was setting the stage for something greater. Sometimes God waits so His power and glory can be revealed in ways that stretch our faith and show others who He really is.
6. To Teach Us Dependence | “Give us this day our daily bread…” — Matthew 6:11
Waiting reminds us we’re not in control—and we’re not supposed to be. It trains us to depend on God moment by moment, need by need, trusting that He will provide exactly what we need, when we need it.
7. To Keep Us Where We Are | “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” — Isaiah 26:3
Sometimes the waiting isn’t about preparing for a future move—it’s about learning to stay put. We often assume waiting means movement is coming, but sometimes God wants to root us deeper right where we are. He may be teaching contentment, faithfulness, or showing us that significance isn’t always tied to change. The pause is the point.
Waiting on God is rarely easy, but it is always purposeful. In a world that prizes hustle and speed, choosing to wait feels like swimming upstream—but it’s often the most spiritually mature thing we can do. It reminds us that we’re not in control, and that’s good news—because the One who is in control is good, wise, and deeply invested in our transformation. So the next time you’re tempted to force something forward, pause. Ask yourself: What might God be doing in this wait? His timing is never off, even if it feels slow to us. Because when we wait on God, we’re not just waiting for something—we’re becoming someone. And that kind of growth is never wasted.
