12 Benefits of Waiting Upon the Lord + Scriptures

Waiting on God can be painful. You may have prayed about the same thing for months or even years and still see no change. You know what God has promised, but you cannot see when or how it will happen. And after waiting for so long, you may begin to wonder, “Should I do something myself?”

That is where waiting becomes difficult. We can trust God and wait, or we can become tired of waiting and try to take control. Abraham and Sarah experienced this. After waiting so long for the child God promised, they tried to make the promise happen through Hagar. Their decision brought pain and conflict to their family.

Waiting asks us to trust God when we cannot see the answer. “For we live by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). It is not easy, but as we continue to trust Him, God uses the waiting to grow our faith and teach us to rely on His Word.

Who waited on God in the Bible?

1. Abraham and Sarah waited over 25 years to have a son.
2. Joseph waited about 20+ years before his dream came true.
3. David waited 15 years to become the King.
4. Noah faithfully built the ark and waited on the flood for 100 years.
5. Moses waited 40 years before leading the people out of Egypt.
6. Esther fasted and waited for 3 days before speaking to the King.

What is the benefit of waiting upon the Lord?

The ultimate benefit of waiting upon the Lord is growing closer to him in intimacy. As you wait on the Lord, he is able to teach you about his character. At the end of your obstacle, you will learn that God is always there and will always be there.

1. See Fulfilled Promises

Habakkuk saw his people suffering and wondered why God was not doing something. He could see the problem, but he could not see what God was doing. While praying, God revealed his plan to Habakkuk. God said: “For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.”

Waiting can be hard when we do not understand what God is doing. But His timing is not the same as ours. If God has spoken, we can trust Him, even when we cannot yet see how His promise will come to pass. Remember, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

2. Receive Renewed Strength

Even when we are faithfully pursuing God, we can become weary. Sometimes, the hardest part comes after a victory. Elijah had just seen God answer his prayer in a powerful way, but soon after, Jezebel threatened him. Elijah became afraid, ran away, and became so weary that he said, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life”  (1 Kings 19:4).

But God did not turn away from Elijah. An angel came to him, gave him food and water, and let him rest. Then God gave him strength to continue (1 Kings 19:5–8).

Sometimes, we are simply tired. We need God to care for us and give us new strength. “Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31) So, if you are tired today, bring your tiredness to God. He will give you strength for the next step. Remember, you “can do all things through Christ who strengthens ” you. (Philippians 4:13)

3. Endurance and Character

Waiting can teach us how to keep going when life is hard. Jeremiah shows us that endurance does not mean we never feel tired, hurt, or discouraged. Jeremiah suffered so much that he said, “Cursed be the day on which I was born” and wished he had died in the womb (Jeremiah 20:14–18).

Yet Jeremiah continued to follow God and speak His Word. Difficult seasons can grow our faith and teach us to keep trusting God, even when we do not feel strong.

• “More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” (Romans 5:3-4)
• “May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy.” (Colossians 1:11)

Related Article: 14 Tips To Stand Firm In Faith When You’re Tired!

4. See God’s Goodness

God writes good stories. Therefore, if you don’t see God’s goodness in a situation then He is still working on your behalf. For example, when Jesus died the disciples thought hope had been lost. However, God had a greater plan that involved bringing hope to the world through Jesus’ sacrificial death.

• “The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:25-26)
• “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

5. He Makes a Clear Path

Allowing God to open and close doors is important in your spiritual walk. God will bring the right relationships, jobs, and opportunities. However, he will remove the wrong ones. Be confident that God is doing this because He is protecting you and He has an ultimate strategy for victory.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Related Article: 14 Tips To Stand Firm In Faith When You’re Tired!

6. Help and Shield

When we hope in God, we can look to Him for help and protection. His Word is like a blueprint for our lives. It shows us how to live and can help us avoid choices that lead to trouble. When we follow God’s Word, we are not only trusting His promises. We are also learning His ways. His instructions can protect us from stepping into situations that bring unnecessary pain or trouble.

• “Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.” (Psalm 33:20-22) 
• David also wrote, “I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.” (Psalm 40:1-17) God met David in his trouble, gave him a firm place to stand, and put a new song in his mouth.

Related Article: 14 Tips To Stand Firm In Faith When You’re Tired!

7. God Will Avenge You

Sometimes waiting on God means trusting Him when there is no way forward and no way back. The Israelites stood before the Red Sea with Pharaoh’s army pursuing them from behind, determined to bring them back into slavery (Exodus 14:7, 9). They had nowhere to go.

Moses told them, “Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will seethe deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:13-14). Then God opened the Red Sea and made a way where there was none. So, when you face a situation with no clear path and no solution, wait on God. “Do not say, ‘I will repay evil’; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you” (Proverbs 20:22). When you cannot see a way forward, God can make one.

Related Article: 10 Powerful Prayers To Destroy Your Enemies’ Plan

8. He Will Exalt You

Are you facing rejection, heartbreak, betrayal, or other difficult situations? Keep trusting God and continue to live with integrity. God sees what you are going through, and in His time, He can use your story to show His goodness. Waiting also teaches us humility. We do not have to prove ourselves or fight for recognition. We can trust God to lift us up at the right time.

• “Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off.” (Psalm 37:34)
• “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7)

9. Inherit the Land

Psalm 37:9 promises that those who wait on the Lord “shall inherit the land.” So what are we actually waiting for? We are waiting for Christ to return, for His Kingdom to be fully established, and for God’s restored earth to become the final inheritance of His people.

The world tells us to fight, force our own outcomes, and secure our own safety. But biblical meekness teaches us to drop our need for self-reliance and control. It is the deliberate choice to stop rushing ahead of God and let Him vindicate us in His timing.

That promise matters deeply when we face trials, delays, and situations we cannot fix. What we are going through now is not the whole story. Renowned New Testament scholar N.T. Wright connects this scriptural inheritance directly to the future restoration of creation and the Kingdom of God. As the Apostle Paul reminds us, those who belong to Christ are “heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29). We can keep trusting God through the waiting because there is a renewed world ahead.

Related Article: What the Bible says about Inheriting the Earth?

10. God Will Provide

When we wait on God, we can trust Him to provide what we need. Waiting does not mean doing nothing. We continue to work, make wise choices, and do what God has placed in front of us while trusting Him with the future.

Jesus said, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:34). We do not need to worry about what has not happened yet. We can focus on today, do what we can, and trust God with the rest.

11. You Reap a Reward

When things get hard, do not give up. Keep doing what is good and keep trusting God. The Bible reminds us that our faithfulness is not wasted. At the right time, we will see the fruit of our faith and receive what God has promised.

• “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)
• “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12)

The spiritual blessings of waiting on God is a heavenly award.

Related Article: 14 Tips To Stand Firm In Faith When You’re Tired!

12. Finish A Good Work In You

As we wait, God can use the season to help us grow. Waiting can bring our fears, pain, and lack of trust to the surface. When these things come up, God can work in our hearts and help us become more like Him. We do not have to change ourselves alone. God is the One who began the work in us, and He will continue to work in us.

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I do while waiting on God? While waiting you should read the word, pray, and thank God. Also, you should continue to live a full life. Sometimes, God wants to discipline believers to work hard and function in life when it’s hard. The key is to avoid feeling like a victim and operating in unhealthy behaviors when things are going wrong.

Does waiting on God means doing nothing? It depends. King Saul didn’t want to wait, so he illegally sacrificed animals unto God. Essentially, King Saul did something because he was acting in fear. This is similar to Abraham and Sarah. Sarah convinced Abraham to impregnate Hagar because they didn’t believe they’d have a baby. These examples shows lack of faith. Therefore, you should only do things that are righteous as you wait. You shouldn’t do anything that contradicts God’s word and reduces your purity as you wait.