Waiting on God can feel slow, heavy, and confusing but the Bible shows that “waiting” is one of the most powerful spiritual practices we have that is often perceived as an inconvenience. In Scripture, the words for wait in Hebrew and Greek go deeper than simple patience; they are defined by expectancy, hope, perseverance, and a deep trust. The Bible often pairs hope with waiting. The Hebrew words for “hope”—qavah and yakhal—are often translated as “wait,” describing patient, trust. We attend to God’s promises, remember his track record, and let that memory strengthen our expectations. The psalmist waited for God “more than watchmen for the morning” (Ps. 130:6). The apostles spoke of a “living hope” anchored in the resurrection of Jesus and the renewal of all things (1 Pet. 1:3).
Waiting has a way of stretching us. It has a way of producing patience, which is a fruit of the Spirit. – Galations 5:22-23. The Hebrew word is Qavah -waiting with tension., to wait with an expectant tension, like pulling a rope tight. (Isaiah 40:31). God isn’t asking us to sit still and do nothing. He’s inviting us to lean into Him, trusting that strength is being woven into us as we do. Waiting can be the spiritual act of being pulled together, not pulled apart. Like God is tugging on the loose threads of our hearts, pulling them taut so He can weave something stronger in us.
When it comes to waiting on the Lord, the time is never wasted. God is intentional about the pauses He gives us. Biblical waiting is never passive. It is one of the most active spiritual postures there is. The Bible uses several descriptive Hebrew and Greek words for “wait,” and each one peels back a layer on what God is doing in the quiet seasons of our lives.
A few days ago I started a devotional plan on the Bible app – Anticipating Christmas – An Advent Overview. It was this paragraph that struck a cord -“Over the next four days, we will walk through the key Advent themes of hope, peace, joy, and love. Each one reveals an aspect of God’s character and calls us to live in light of the world he is making. Between the first advent and the second advent, Jesus’ return, our lives take their shape from the story God is telling.” “Between the advents” is what caught my eye.
(Side note:the words I highlighted, hope, peace, joy are three words I felt the Holy Sprit gave me for 2026. And now I believe He’s tossing in the word wait.)
Whilst I was reading the first day of this devotional plan, I couldn’t help but think about what was prophesied in Isaiah about Jesus’ birth, His first arrival to earth and His return. I have to be honest, the world is craaaaaazzzzeee right now. None of which has taken God by surprise, however, I never thought or imagined in a zilllion years the events of evil, lies and division that has taken place over the past few decades, much less past few years. I ask God often, “How much longer? How bad is it going to get before Jesus meets us in the clouds?” At which point, I realize, I really don’t want to know. I just know that things aren’t going to get any better until Jesus returns to the earth again. The world waited, like 700 years from the time of the prophesy in Isaiah to the birth of Jesus. It’s been over 2000 years since Jesus gave His life and shed His blood for us on the cross. And with all that’s going on… I can’t help but be aware of Christ’s return. (Read the book of Daniel if you want a time line of the events that have already taken place).
Waiting is hard. Well, it is for me sometimes, ok most times. Sometimes I enjoy and appreciate the anticipation. Sometimes there’s anxiety in the wait, sometimes it’s pure excitement, sometimes I can wait patiently. What matters most is what I am doing in the wait? Which made me think of another devotional I read about the virgins waiting for the bride groom and tied into the sermon my pastor spoke on a few Sundays about waiting and things started to merge. Yep, waiting is a word for 2026.
So I am mainly focused on waiting for Jesus to open up the sky and meet us in the clouds. What do I do, we do, whilst waiting for His return.
Ok back to the ten virgins who were instructed to keep their wicks trimmed and lamps full of oil. The trimming of the wicks – important because for the oil to burn efficiently and clean, otherwise the oil would burn faster and be smokey. To me that symbolizes trimming the things that will cloud my focus on waiting, specifically for Jesus’s return. Maybe I need to trim my time on social media or say no to things that will overload my schedule and cloud my focus on God.
Keeping my lamp fill with oil symbolizes staying filled with the Holy Spirit. I can only do that by staying in close proximity to God, reading His word daily and serving Him. In order to keep something filled, we have to keep an eye on it. For instance to keep gas in your car you need to pay attention to the gas gauge. In waiting for Jesus’s return we have to keep our eyes opened, minds alert ready to hear Jesus (Psalm 130:6 – more than a watchman waiting for morning). Keeping our lamps full we are preparing by storing scripture in our hearts. See waiting isn’t passive. I guess I need to be aware of what I am doing when I am waiting. I can be passive or active in my waiting and focusing on God and serving Him are a few ways I can actively wait for Jesus to meet us in the clouds..
This could be applied to waiting for anything God has you waiting for. I can also apply this to everyday waiting and be more productive by choosing to spend less time on social media in my waiting and read something or maybe sketch or take time to memorize a verse. Are you waiting on an answer from God? What are you doing in your wait? Are you staying active and waiting with expectant hope? Keep you lamp full and your wick trimmed. Keep your heart and mind focused on God, His word, recall the the times He has been faithful to encourage you and remind you.
Waiting is never wasted when you are waiting on God and serving Him in the wait and there are so many ways to serve Him. The hope that comes with waiting faces the dark and keeps watch. It acknowledges the difficult season without surrendering to it. There are things we can do in our spiritual wait and our everyday waiting. Practice waiting this week. When anxiety rises, pause and remember a moment of God’s faithful care. When you’re tempted to grasp for control, choose a small act of trust, cast your cares (1 Peter 5:&7). Hope and faith grow through small daily habits and becomes a signpost for others who are searching for light.
Morning is coming; the cross and empty tomb guarantee it.
The Kedge Anchor 
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