Upendo Ministries

We’ve all said it before—sometimes with confidence, sometimes with trembling lips—“I’m just going to wait on God.”

It’s easy to say those words. To remind ourselves that His timing is perfect. To post the verse about eagles’ wings and strength renewed. To tell others, “I’m trusting Him with the future.”

But here’s the thing I’ve been learning—waiting isn’t just the quiet, still space between now and what’s next. It’s not an empty hallway we stand in until the door swings open.

Waiting is active.

And if we’re not careful, we can spend our whole waiting season staring at the clock instead of seeking the One we’re waiting for.

Because when the night feels endless, when you’re aching for light to break through, it’s not enough to simply say you’ll wait for morning. The question is: What are you doing in the night?

Are you praying? Worshiping? Serving? Growing? Or are you sitting in the shadows, arms crossed, heart closed, just wishing for it all to be over?

I’ve been in those dark seasons—the ones where answers feel a million miles away. Where the thing you long for seems so good, so right, and yet God’s voice keeps whispering, “Not yet.” And I’ve learned that the posture of my heart in the waiting shapes who I am when the answer finally comes.

If I spend my waiting complaining, I will arrive bitter.
If I spend my waiting comparing, I will arrive discontent.
If I spend my waiting doubting, I will arrive fearful.

But if I spend my waiting seeking Him, I will arrive closer to His heart.
If I spend my waiting serving, I will arrive with joy.
If I spend my waiting worshiping, I will arrive stronger in faith.

We don’t wait for God’s promises the same way we wait for a bus to show up. We wait with God, walking beside Him in the here and now.

And maybe that’s the secret—maybe the most beautiful parts of His plan aren’t only found at the end of the waiting, but in what He’s doing in us during it.

So yes—wait for the promise. Wait for the light to come. But while you wait, let your hands stay busy in love, let your mouth speak words of truth, let your heart remain soft and surrendered.

Because when the light finally breaks through, you’ll realize He was shaping you in the dark all along.

And you’ll be glad you didn’t waste the wait.

-Vanessa