Waiting: A Curse or a Blessing?

A Matter of Perspective

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 ESV

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing ...

I think we are all familiar with that passage of the Bible, made famous by the rock band The Byrds in 1965 with the song "Turn! Turn! Turn!" It quickly became a hit, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in December 1965. The song was originally written in 1959 by songwriter and activist Pete Seeger. But it was The Byrds’ folk-rock arrangement that brought it to mainstream fame during the height of the 1960s peace movement.

Noticeably absent from that list is “a time to wait.”

Waiting: A Curse or a Blessing?

Waiting is one of the most challenging experiences we encounter. In a world accustomed to immediacy—where we can order food with a tap of a button, buy a plane ticket with a click, or receive answers in seconds—waiting frequently triggers anxiety. It feels uncomfortable, and at times, can be agonizing. We may be waiting for healing, for clarity, for answered prayers, for economic relief, for justice, for a life partner, or for the fulfillment of a promise. No matter the source, waiting is tough.

We want to get started. We want movement. We view delays as wasted time and an interruption of our plans. Yet from God’s perspective, waiting is never “wasted time.” God utilizes delays to quiet the noise in our minds and hearts, allowing us to seek clarity from Him. In that vulnerable in-between space, our faith is tested and then deepened. It is during these times that God carries out the most transformative work in our lives.

We struggle with waiting because it disrupts our illusion of control and the need for steady predictability. The longer we wait, the more prone we are to experience frustration, boredom, and even anger—especially when the wait seems unfair. Spiritually, these moments test our trust in God's timing. When we have no idea how long the wait will be or why it's happening, we often assume that when God answers our prayers with silence He is absent. However, God often uses waiting as a sacred tool—not to punish us, but to shape us. It’s in this tension—between knowing and not knowing—that the roots of our faith are deepened. We're not just waiting for something—we're in the process of becoming someone. God’s Word advises us in Psalm 27:14 (NASB)

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord.”

During this time, we need to shift from “When will this end?” to “What are You trying to teach me?” and from “Why does this delay going on and on?” to “Who are You transforming me to be?” When prayer doesn’t seem to be changing our circumstances, we need to search our soul for how it is changing us. Unlike the person whose impatience gets the best of him and he eventually walks away, the believer remains faithful and trusts —not because the wait is easy, but because the One we're waiting for an answer from sees the Big Picture and can see miles (and years) further down the road than we can.

A few verses down, Ecclesiastes 3:11 (ESV) says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time...” So yes, for everything, there is a season, including a season to wait.

Today’s Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for being a God who sees us struggling in the waiting. You understand the weight of every unanswered prayer, every longing of our hearts, and every moment we feel forgotten or weary. Yet, You are not distant. You are near, even in the silence. You are working, even when we don’t see it. And You are shaping us, even when all we feel is stillness.

Lord, help us wait with grace. Teach us to lean not our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5) but to trust in Your perfect wisdom and timing. Strengthen our faith when we grow weary. Calm our anxious thoughts when the road ahead seems uncertain and times are turbulent. Fill the quiet spaces with Your peace. Remind us that You are never late—You are always right on time.

Use this season to grow our faith, deepen our roots, refine our character, and draw our hearts closer to Yours. May we emerge from the time of waiting not just with answered prayers, but with transformed spirits—more patient, more trusting, and more in love with You. And while we wait, let our lives reflect the hope we have in Christ, so that others may see Your faithfulness through us. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.