When God Puts You on Hold
What to Do in Spiritual Waiting Rooms
Key Verse:
"I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope."
— Psalm 130:5
The Silence Between Prayers and Answers
If you’ve been in ministry for any length of time, you know the feeling: you've prayed, fasted, and sought God’s direction—but there’s no answer. No breakthrough. No clarity. Just... waiting.
It feels like you've been put on spiritual hold.
And unlike earthly phone lines, there’s no hold music—just silence.
It’s in these “waiting rooms” of life and leadership that our faith is tested, refined, and matured. God is never late—but He is rarely early. His delays are not denials; they are often developments in disguise.
The question is: what do you do while you wait?
Biblical Leaders Who Had to Wait
Waiting has always been part of God’s refining process.
Abraham waited 25 years for Isaac after the promise.
Joseph waited over 13 years between his dream and his promotion.
Moses waited 40 years in Midian before leading Israel.
David waited over a decade to wear the crown after being anointed.
Paul waited in prison, unsure of whether he would live or die—yet still wrote letters of encouragement.
Most notably, even Jesus waited—30 years before beginning a 3-year public ministry.
Waiting is not punishment. It is preparation.
The Pain of the Pause
The waiting season is often full of:
Unanswered questions: “Did I hear God wrong?”
Lingering doubts: “Did I fail somewhere along the way?”
Emotional fatigue: “How long, Lord?”
In these moments, it’s easy to want to rush forward, to force results, or to manipulate timelines. But impatience in the waiting room often leads to Ishmaels—man-made solutions to God-ordained promises.
The danger isn’t just in what you do while you wait—it’s in who you become while you wait. Waiting has a way of revealing the motives, pride, and fears we didn’t know were there.
“God never hurries. There are no deadlines against which He must work. To know this is to quiet our spirits and relax our nerves.”
— A.W. Tozer
What to Do While on Hold
1. Worship While You Wait
Worship is not a reward for answered prayer—it’s the atmosphere in which we wait with trust. Psalm 40:1 says, “I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry.” Worship turns waiting into intimacy.
2. Trust God’s Timing Over Your Timeline
Isaiah 60:22 declares, “When the time is right, I, the Lord, will make it happen.” Your timeline is not divine. Trust that God sees what you don’t.
3. Stay Faithful in the Small Things
When you don’t know what to do, keep doing what you know is right:
Preach with integrity.
Love your family.
Shepherd the flock in front of you.
Faithfulness in obscurity prepares you for fruitfulness in visibility.
4. Lean on the Word, Not Just the Whisper
When heaven is silent, lean harder into Scripture. His Word is not silent. Psalm 130:5 says, “In His word I put my hope.” Don’t wait passively. Wait anchored.
5. Allow God to Work in You Before He Works Through You
God isn’t just orchestrating circumstances—He’s shaping your character. The man or woman who comes out of the waiting room is not the same as the one who entered. Don’t waste the wait.
Encouragement for Tired Hearts
Waiting seasons may feel like delay, but they are often where God does His deepest work. Consider this:
Roots grow deepest during drought.
Muscles are strengthened in resistance.
Diamonds form under pressure and time.
If you feel stuck, sidelined, or forgotten—know this:
You are being refined, not rejected.
You are being shaped, not shelved.
Keep preaching. Keep praying. Keep trusting. The hold may be longer than expected, but the One who placed you there has a purpose beyond what you can see.
Prayer Thought
Father, I confess that I don’t like to wait. I long for answers, movement, and clarity—but You call me to trust. Help me not to grow weary in the silence. Teach me to worship in the wait, to serve in the slow, and to believe even when the path is unclear. Shape me into someone who waits well. May I come out of this season more like Christ. In His name I pray, Amen.
Pastoring Tip of the Week
This week, look back through your journal or sermon notes from a past waiting season. Remind yourself of how God came through. Then, write a short letter to yourself titled, “While I Wait…” Include three things you will continue doing even in uncertainty. Share it with a trusted friend or elder, and let them walk the wait with you.
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Let us help you stay grounded while you wait on God’s perfect timing.
Note: All Scripture from the NIV Bible Translation.