Life situation · Emotional and personal
Bible Verses About Waiting on God
For long seasons of waiting: the psalms that wait for the LORD, Abraham and Sarah’s twenty-five years, Simeon in the temple, and the farmer waiting for rain.
Editorial text in English. Scripture is quoted from the version you choose; references stay the same in every version.
Introduction
Much of the Bible is about waiting: for a promised child, for the end of exile, for the Messiah, for justice. Abraham was seventy-five when God promised him a son and a hundred when Isaac was born. Genesis 12:4Genesis 21:5
The psalms and prophets do not pretend waiting is easy. They speak of waiting with hope, with honesty about how long it takes.
Passages to read
What each passage addresses in its own setting, and why it is relevant here. Read the surrounding verses too.
Psalm 27:13–14 Central teaching
What it addresses: The close of a psalm of trust surrounded by enemies.
Why it is relevant: “Wait for the LORD. Be strong, and let your heart take courage.”
Psalm 40:1–3 Central teaching
What it addresses: A psalm of thanksgiving after deliverance.
Why it is relevant: “I waited patiently for the LORD. He turned to me, and heard my cry.”
Isaiah 40:27–31 Central teaching
What it addresses: God answers exiles who feel forgotten.
Why it is relevant: Those who wait for the LORD will renew their strength.
Lamentations 3:25–26 Central teaching
What it addresses: Part of a lament over Jerusalem’s destruction.
Why it is relevant: It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.
Habakkuk 2:1–3 Central teaching
What it addresses: The prophet waits for God’s answer to his complaint about injustice.
Why it is relevant: “For the vision is yet for the appointed time… Though it takes time, wait for it.”
Genesis 21:1–7 Narrative example
What it addresses: Isaac is born to Abraham and Sarah in their old age.
Why it is relevant: The promise was kept after twenty-five years of waiting.
Luke 2:25–32 Narrative example
What it addresses: Simeon, who had been waiting for the consolation of Israel, holds the baby Jesus.
Why it is relevant: A lifetime of waiting ends in praise.
James 5:7–8 Central teaching
What it addresses: James encourages believers waiting for the Lord’s coming.
Why it is relevant: Be patient, like a farmer waiting for the rain.
Stories to read
Biblical narratives that involve the same experience. They describe what happened to particular people; they are not promises about every situation.
- Abraham and Isaac
The long wait for Isaac. Genesis 21:1–5
People in Scripture who faced this
- Abraham
Abraham waits twenty-five years for the promised son. Genesis 12:4Genesis 21:5
- Sarah
Sarah laughs at the promise after long waiting. Genesis 18:11–12
Connected themes
- Hope
Hope waits for what is not yet seen. Romans 8:24–25
- Perseverance
Endurance through long seasons. James 5:7–8
- Providence
Trusting God’s timing. Habakkuk 2:3
Questions for reflection
Optional. Written by BibleKenya editors; they are not Scripture. Your answers are not collected.
- How does the writer of Psalm 40:1 describe his waiting and what followed?
- What does God promise those who wait in Isaiah 40:31?
- What might Simeon’s long wait teach (Luke 2:25-32)?
- What are you waiting for, and how could you wait with hope?
A short reading plan
Ticks are kept on this device only.
Related situations
- Unemployment
Waiting with hope. Psalm 27:14
Scripture, editorial reflection and professional advice are different things. The passages are quoted from the Bible version you choose; the explanations are BibleKenya’s; for health, legal, financial or safety decisions, seek qualified help.