Worship in the Waiting

When Delays Become an Invitation to Deeper Trust

Waiting is not something most of us do well. Whether you’re stuck in traffic, waiting for a medical diagnosis, or praying for breakthrough in your family, waiting often feels like the absence of movement. It feels like you’re somehow being forgotten. And worship in the waiting? That seems almost laughable in the trials and struggles.

But what if waiting is actually holy ground?

This month’s theme—WORSHIP: When Our Relationship Serves Him In Praise—invites us to reconsider the pause. Worship isn’t just for the mountaintop. It’s for the in-between. And it’s especially powerful when we choose to worship in the waiting.

When Silence Stretches Long

I remember a season in my life where it felt like all the doors were shut. I had prayed, fasted, journaled, sought counsel—and nothing changed. Not for a month. Not for six months. But for two full years.

In that silence, I struggled to keep singing. I wanted to believe God was working, but all I could see was delay. There were many tear-filled mornings when I lifted my hands out of discipline, not emotion. My lips sang, but my heart felt dry.

And yet… that worship became my anchor. It kept me grounded and focused on the direction I needed to continue going. It gave me the strength to keep forging ahead, even though things weren’t working out the way I thought they might.

Worship in the Waiting Realigns Our Focus

Psalm 130:5 says:
“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope.”

Waiting without worship invites fear, bitterness, or distraction. But waiting with worship redirects our gaze off of what we lack and onto Who is faithful.

When we worship in the waiting, we declare that God is still good, even when life is not yet. We stop demanding immediate solutions and start inviting eternal perspective. That kind of worship doesn’t change our circumstances, but it does change us.

Faith That Sings Before the Breakthrough

Do you remember Paul and Silas in Acts 16? They were imprisoned, beaten, and chained. Yet what did they do at midnight?

They sang.

Their worship in the waiting didn’t just bring an earthquake and freedom for themselves. It impacted every prisoner listening.

When we worship in the waiting, we not only build our own faith, but we spark hope in those around us. Your perseverance in praise might be someone else’s turning point.

The Beauty of a Posture, Not Just a Song

Worship in the waiting isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it’s sitting quietly with an open Bible. It’s choosing not to complain when God doesn’t show up on your timetable. It’s writing down your blessings even when your breakthrough hasn’t come.

This kind of worship:

• Submits to God’s timeline.
• Clings to God’s character.
• Rests in God’s sovereignty.

And eventually, it transforms your perspective. Instead of obsessing over “When, Lord?” we begin to pray, “Who are You shaping me to become while I wait?”

Prepare While You Pause

Jesus told a parable in Matthew 25 about ten virgins waiting for the bridegroom. Five brought extra oil. Five did not. When the delay came, only those prepared were welcomed into the feast.

Worship in the waiting is how we gather oil. It’s how we stay ready—not because we’re striving, but because we’re anchored in hope.

What can you do today to posture your heart in preparation?

• Revisit prophetic words or promises you’ve journaled.
• Commit to memorizing Scripture that reminds you of His faithfulness.
• Write out a list of past prayers God has answered.

Every time you worship in the waiting, you refill your lamp.

The Wait Is Not Wasted

Waiting doesn’t mean God is absent. It means He’s active in unseen ways.

Isaiah 64:4 reminds us, “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.”

God isn’t passive. He’s preparing. And your worship in the waiting is a fragrant offering, more precious than you know.

So keep praising.

Keep believing.

And keep your lamp filled. The bridegroom is coming. And your worship in the waiting is making the way.