Choosing To Wait Well
KAREN EHMAN
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“I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope …” Psalm 130:5 (ESV)
Recently, I typed a request into ChatGPT — that generative artificial intelligence tool that gives answers at lightning speed. Listed just before its reply was this astounding declaration: “Reasoned for 16 seconds and then gave the response below.”
Sometimes I wish God were more like ChatGPT.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if God responded to our requests mere seconds later? I mean, after all, He is the Almighty! He totally could do that. But instead, He often asks us to be patient.
We humans simply do not like to wait, whether we're in line at the coffeehouse, on the phone with customer service, or praying for a financial crisis to resolve or a loved one to change their self-destructive behavior. When dire matters send us to our knees in prayer, we want answers fast! Yet when a resolution doesn’t come right away …
How can we choose to wait well?
Psalm 130:5 declares, “I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope.”
This kind of waiting isn’t a passive posture — it is a deliberate act of faith. As agrarian people, ancient Israelites like the writer of this psalm were familiar with waiting on God to send rain for their harvest. Spiritually, they also had to wait patiently for God’s deliverance by clinging to His promises with hope.
The Hebrew word for “hope” is yachal, which means “to look forward to a positive outcome” or “to have confidence that God will intervene.” Like the psalmist, when we are waiting, we can hope in God’s Word.
What might this look like? One way to temper our worries with Truth is to make a list of the situations concerning us — then beside each one, write out a Bible verse that brings hope.
If tight finances find us fretful, we might write Philippians 4:19: “And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (CSB).
If anxiety is interrupting our productivity or our sleep, Isaiah 26:3 can give us encouragement: “You [God] will keep the mind that is dependent on you in perfect peace, for it is trusting in you” (CSB). We can also commit these verses to memory and call on them in prayer.
Sometimes God rescues us from trying situations quickly. Other times He strengthens us to withstand them. In both cases, He remains a loving and trustworthy God. As we remember that He often delivers us through life’s pain rather than around it, let’s choose to wait well.
Gracious Father, I want to learn to trust in Your love and care for me while I wait for the answer to my prayer. May I not fret but instead have faith in Your plan. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
OUR FAVORITE THINGS
If you need spiritual perspective and comforting encouragement while you wait on God for answers, check out Karen Ehman and Ruth Schwenk’s devotional Trusting God in All the Things: 90 Devotions for Finding Peace in Your Every Day.
ENGAGE
Today, Karen is giving away a “Waiting Well” gift basket of Bible study resources and tasty treats. Head to her Instagram to enter to win!
FOR DEEPER STUDY
Romans 8:24-25, “Now in this hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? Now if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience” (CSB).
Can you think of a time when you prayed about something and it felt like God wasn’t answering? What did you learn about Him while you were waiting?
We’d love to hear your thoughts! Connect with us in the comments.
© 2025 by Karen Ehman. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org
Originally published Monday, 21 July 2025.
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