How to Wait on God with Faith, Joy, and Expectation

Okay, let’s be real: who actually likes waiting?

Not me. And definitely not my kids. 😅

We’re a homeschoolin’, Disney-lovin’ fam from sunny SoCal—and back when we had annual passes, we squeezed every bit of magic out of those Friday fun days. One time, we jumped in line for a ride with a “45-minute wait”… and nearly THREE hours later (thanks, fast-pass stampede), we finally made it to the front… just as the ride broke down. 😩

It’s now one of those family legends we laugh about now—but in the moment? Not so fun.

And isn’t that just like life?

You’re showing up in faith, doing all the right things, expecting progress—and boom, delay. Disappointment. Detour. You find yourself in the dreaded in-between space, waiting on a dream that feels stuck or a prayer that feels unanswered.

What are you hoping for, that feels stuck in waiting?

Here’s the shift: waiting isn’t wasted—and it’s definitely not passive.

🎁 That Magical Old-School Kind of Waiting

There’s this powerful Hebrew word: Qavah—it means to wait with tension and expectation. Like a bowstring pulled back, ready to launch. 🎯

It’s not sitting on your hands hoping something happens—it’s active, electric, and rooted in trust. It's the kind of waiting that knows God is already on the move and expects Him to show up big.

Side-note: in ancient Hebrew culture, this kind of gritty, hope-filled waiting was the lifeline of the poor and desperate—it’s what carried them through.

It’s the buzz of anticipation, like Christmas Eve magic. Qavah stretches you, tunes you, aligns you—so when the moment comes, you’re ready to ambush what's next. It positions you to collide with the goodness and mercy chasing you. 🙌🏼

💫 Waiting is Wholeness Prep

When frustration narrows our focus to just what we’re waiting for, we miss the treasures already right under our nose. We miss the holistic breakthrough God’s working in us—the stretch, the strength, the capacity to carry what’s coming, and who we're becoming on the way there. Trusting God in the tension is what unlocks the “more than you could ask or imagine” (Eph 3:20) kind of surprises. ✨

Even in those long Disney lines, we learned: when the snacks ran out and the games got old, we got silly. We got creative. We connected. And somehow, we always found something to laugh about. (Okay..... or fake-complain about with flair. 😂) We discovered joy isn't forced to bow to frustration.

👵🏼 A Visit from Future You

Picture this: She shows up glowing—coffee in hand, peace all over her face—because God came through with promises and pulled gold out of places she didn’t know she had. She leans in, smiles, and says, “Breathe, girl. You don’t have to white-knuckle this season.” Her advice? Trust the Shepherd, treasure the twists, and soak in what God’s doing now.

Lean on future-you’s strength and breakthroughs with God. He’s already there—and He knows how to lift your spirit into the peace He’s prepared for you.

🚀 Faith-Filled, Forward-Looking Waiting

Biblical waiting isn’t passive. It’s bold. It looks like knocking on doors, circling the promise like Jericho, walking in step with His peace, and filling up all the space until your territory expands.

📖 Adam watched every animal walk by and still—no Eve. 😬 The anticipation was real. Imagine the pure magic when Adam laid eyes on Eve after waiting his whole life. Adam’s like, “FINALLY!” 🙌🏼 His custom-designed gift was worth the wait.

📖 Job lost everything—but didn’t quit. His kind of waiting was gritty, honest, persistent, engaging, and still full of hope. In the deep pain, he wrestled and refused to let go of God’s promises. That's Qavah. And God honored it big time.

📖 And Jeremiah 29:11? God’s plans are to prosper you, not harm you—to give you hope and a future. God is fiercely committed to this promise. He’s not playing games with your heart. He’s got top-shelf plans already in motion—and part of the thrill is learning to wait with wonder.

Waiting doesn’t drain you—it renews you. Isaiah 40:31 says, “Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength.” That’s not wishful thinking. That’s compound interest on God’s faithfulness. 💥

Every time you choose to proactively wait with hope, you're making a faith deposit that God grows into future strength, breakthrough, and clarity. It’s multiplied return in spiritual maturity, intimacy, and divine timing.

Let’s Get You Unstuck

But don’t confuse waiting on God with waiting around for Him to do all the work (or He'd still be walking the earth 😉).

Sometimes we think waiting means sitting still (and holy enough), hoping God drops something in our lap. But He’s not just looking for spectators—He’s raising up faith-walkers, dreamers, and co-laborers who move with Him.

God’s always speaking, moving, and working behind the scenes to turn things for your good. So keep praying, preparing, and showing up in spaces where His peace leads. Keep dreaming with Him.

🫠 And when you feel like screaming “BUT THIS IS HARD!!!”—I get it. We all hit those “I’m tired and frustrated” places.

But listen: God didn’t plant dreams in you to tease or torment you. He planted them to fulfill you. ✨

Sometimes you’ve just gotta loosen that grip on your perfect picture and let God paint something even better than you imagined.

Faith delights His heart. And when your heart starts beating in rhythm with heaven? When you wait with expectation instead of exhaustion? ✨ Breakthrough becomes inevitable. Because partnering with God never returns void.

Let’s wait well and hope wildly! Let’s keep trusting His timing while activating our faith.

To joyful waiting and treasures found along the way,

Kelsi