What to Do If Waiting Is Hard Right Now
Photo by Alex Ivashenko
A friend of mine has been single for a long time. She’s watched her siblings, some of her friends, and even her ex get married. She’s aware of her slowly increasing age and the weight of her strong desire to be a mom.
God has not yet fulfilled some of the hopes and dreams He’s put on her heart. But He’s done such a work with her that when she looks at her life, she’s delighted that He asked her to wait.
She’s starting to recognize that fear has no power over her heart and dreams. Even though she’s waited a long time, she knows what God has told her, and she isn’t afraid of waiting the way she used to be.
What If Waiting Is Hard?
In my experience, younger Christian women especially can struggle with the idea of waiting to meet the right person. They have questions and can worry about an apparent lack of men—specifically, a lack of good Christian men who are walking with and following Jesus in an intentional way.
But this comes down to an issue of trust. Do we really believe that our heavenly Father has good plans for us? Do we accept the idea of His Fatherhood and the kindness of His heart? Are we willing to let Him guide us, or do we feel we need to push ahead on our own?
Yes, waiting can be hard. This switch in mindset—where we begin to trust God with our desires—isn’t easy and requires time.
But I know many people, both men and women, who are learning what my friend is learning about delighting in God, and that simple truth is radically changing their lives.
God Is Careful with What You Entrust to Him
When God is our joy, we can be single with joy and married with joy. No matter our circumstances, joy is possible because the One who is our joy is with us. Everything we do—both work and play—can be filled with joy because the Author of Joy has become our greatest desire.
Relationship with the Lord is not just something we do. It is life. It can grow to become such a real, genuine core of who we are that waiting isn’t scary anymore.
We begin to realize it’s okay to set our hopes and dreams in the Lord’s hands because they are careful hands. He doesn’t ever drop what we give Him. Our hearts are His treasure, and our dreams can actually be a pathway to knowing Him better.
In fact, the more we get to know God, the more we realize how much He cares about our hearts and the special dreams He’s planted there. In times of waiting, the wait itself isn’t the goal; the goal is relationship with the Lord, who loves us and the crazy things we want to accomplish.
God Cares for Your Heart Tenderly
God has your marriage in control, and His timing is perfect! Your heart—your wishes and dreams, the desires He’s given you, who you are—matters to Him.
He wants you to have a blessed and fun adventure on this road of meeting the right person, falling in love, and stepping into marriage with the dear friend He brings you. He’s writing a beautiful story with your waiting, all your prayers, and the trust you place in Him.
Learning to Trust God with Your Desires
If you can tell you need to learn how to trust God with your desires, meditate on the following truths. Write them down and ask Him how they apply to you and your story. Turn them into declarations and speak them out loud:
Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart. (Ps. 37:4 NASB)
The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the person who seeks Him. (Lam. 3:25)
Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame. (Ps. 34:5 NIV)
Make God the utmost delight and pleasure of your life,
and he will provide for you what you desire the most. (Ps. 37:4 TPT)
You are precious to your Father’s heart. This week choose to boldly trust His love and faithfulness.
Interested in reading more about dating, relationships, and your walk with God? Here are a few articles on related topics:
For more information on sex, marriage, and finding the person who is right for you, get a copy of Becoming the One by Salomé Roat. Click here to learn more. The book is also available in Spanish.