Waiting on the Promise

We live in a world that doesn’t like to wait… Which is kind of the understatement of the year. How many of you like to wait in traffic?  in line?  

We’re surrounded by instant gratification—Microwaves, fast food, same-day shipping, and answers at our fingertips. Waiting feels like a waste of time. It’s uncomfortable, frustrating, and sometimes even painful. When life puts us on pause, we often find ourselves anxious, restless, or discouraged—wondering why God hasn’t moved yet or why our prayers seem to linger unanswered.

But what if waiting isn’t just about passing time but about preparing us for something greater? What if the season of waiting is not wasted, but purposeful— What if God using it to shape us, grow us, and ready us for what’s next?

Think about the disciples after Jesus ascended into heaven. They had just witnessed something extraordinary—Jesus rising into the sky, returning to the Father, and leaving them with the promise of the Holy Spirit. But there was no timeline given, no clear indication of how long they would have to wait. All they knew was Jesus said to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the promise (Acts 1:4).

Imagine the tension they must have felt. They were eager, uncertain, and likely feeling the weight of responsibility that Jesus had just placed on them—to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth. But instead of giving in to fear or impulsively taking matters into their own hands, they did something truly remarkable: they gathered together, prayed, and waited with expectation.

They didn’t treat waiting as wasting time. They treated it as a time of preparation and seeking God. And in that space between the promise given and the promise fulfilled, God was doing something profound in their hearts—unifying them, strengthening their faith, and readying them to receive the power that would change everything.

Maybe you find yourself in a similar place today—waiting on God to move, waiting on answers, waiting for a breakthrough. It can feel like nothing is happening, but I want to encourage you: God is at work in your waiting. He is not idle or indifferent to your prayers. In fact, He is using this season to deepen your faith, sharpen your trust, and align your heart with His purposes.

Today, we’re going to explore how God uses waiting to prepare us for His promises. We’ll look at how the disciples responded to their season of anticipation and how their example challenges us to embrace waiting with faith, not frustration. Because in God’s kingdom, waiting is never wasted.

God uses waiting to prepare us for His promises.

Acts 1:12–26 NLT

12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, a distance of half a mile. 13 When they arrived, they went to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying. Here are the names of those who were present: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the zealot), and Judas (son of James). 14 They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus. 15 During this time, when about 120 believers were together in one place, Peter stood up and addressed them. 16 “Brothers,” he said, “the Scriptures had to be fulfilled concerning Judas, who guided those who arrested Jesus. This was predicted long ago by the Holy Spirit, speaking through King David. 17 Judas was one of us and shared in the ministry with us.” 18 (Judas had bought a field with the money he received for his treachery. Falling headfirst there, his body split open, spilling out all his intestines. 19 The news of his death spread to all the people of Jerusalem, and they gave the place the Aramaic name Akeldama, which means “Field of Blood.”) 20 Peter continued, “This was written in the book of Psalms, where it says, ‘Let his home become desolate, with no one living in it.’ It also says, ‘Let someone else take his position.’ 21 “So now we must choose a replacement for Judas from among the men who were with us the entire time we were traveling with the Lord Jesus—22 from the time he was baptized by John until the day he was taken from us. Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness of Jesus’ resurrection.” 23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they all prayed, “O Lord, you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen 25 as an apostle to replace Judas in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and Matthias was selected to become an apostle with the other eleven.

1. Waiting is an act of faith.

Acts 1:14 NLT

14 They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.

Waiting is difficult because it feels like a waste of time. We live in a microwave culture that wants immediate results, and when we don’t get them instantly, or see progress, we assume nothing is happening.

But with God, waiting is active and intentional. The disciples didn’t just sit around doing nothing after Jesus ascended.

The disciples got together, prayed constantly, and prepared their hearts for what was to come.

They could have easily scattered, filled their time with busy work, or tired to make things happen in their own strength. Instead, they chose to wait on God’s timing and seek his presence. They didn’t let uncertainty drive them to fear or frustration; instead it drove them to prayer and unity.

That kind of waiting is an act of faith… choosing to trust that God is at work, even when you don’t see it. It’s like a farmer who plants sees in the ground. He doesn’t walk away because he doesn’t see anything immediately. Instead, he waters the soil, pulls weeds, and nurtures what he has planted… trusting that growth is happening beneath the surface.

Paul wrote, Gal 6:9

Galatians 6:9 LBP

9 And let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up.

Spiritual growth takes time, and waiting is often part of that process. God uses seasons of waiting on Him to strengthen our faith, develop our character, and line up our hearts with God’s purposes.

We see this pattern through out the Bible. Look at

Abraham who waited decades for the promised son, learning that God’s promises never fail… they always happen. Hebrews 6:15 “Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised.”

Joseph who waited in prison while God prepared him to lead the most powerful nation in the world Genesis 50:20 “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.”

David who was anointed King but spent years waiting to take the throne, learning to trust God’s timing. Psalm 27:14 “Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”

In each of these and every case, God wasn’t wasting time, H was preparing His peope for what was next. The same is true for us. Times of waiting are opportunities to seek God with all our hearts, to grow in our faith, and learn to trust that He is at work, even when we don’t see it.

time when God has prepared me for something in the future.

2. Waiting prepares us for what’s next.

Acts 1:24 NLT

24 Then they all prayed, “O Lord, you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen

The moment in the lives of the disciples teaches us that waiting can be a time of preparation and readiness. They knew that to step into what God was calling them to do, that they had to be fully equipped and unified. By replacing Judas and restoring the twelve, they were positioning themselves for what God was about to do through them.

When we are in a time of waiting, it’s tempting to focus on the delay and wonder, How long do I have to wait? But the better question is What is God teaching me during this time? or even better, How can I prepare myself for the future while I wait?

Is He building endurance and patience?

James 1:3–4 NLT

3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Is He calling you to deepen your faith?

Romans 5:3–5 NLT

3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Is He giving you time to heal and restore before moving forward?

Isaiah 40:31 NLT

31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

There are endless opportunities and reasons for us to wait. But through it all, we know that God has a plan and that His timing is perfect.

3. God’s timing is always perfect.

Acts 1:2 NLT

2 until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit.

One of the most challenging aspects of our faith is trusting God’s timing. We want things according to our timing but we have to learn that God’s timing is always better.

Someone said,

God is an on time God, but He sure misses a lot of opportunities to be early.

After Jesus ascended, the disciples were left with his instruction but without the HS… not yet anyway. Jesus had given them everything they needed to know, but the power to act on it had not yet arrived.

This teaches us an essential truth.

God’s promises come in His perfect timing, not ours.

What if the disciples has rushed ahead of the Spirit… like we often try to do. They could have tried to preache the Gospel in their own strength and understanding, but it would have been empty and powerless. Waiting on God is a powerful act of obedience and trust.

How often do we try to force God’s hand instead of trusting His plan? It’s easy to try and move ahead of God, convinced that our way is quicker or better. But in the Bible we repeatedly see that God’s timing is not just good, it’s perfect.

Examples of God’s perfect timing.

Abraham and Sarah

God promised them a son, but it was years later before they had Isaac. They became impatient and took matters into their own hands, resulting in Ishmael… a mistake we are paying for today. But when God’s timing was perfect, Isaac was born, showing that God’s promises can’t be rushed.

David’s anointing and Kingship

David was anointed King when he was just a boy, but it took uears and many trials before he actually became the King. During that waiting period, God was shaping David’s character, preparing him to be a leader after His own heart. 1 Sam 16:13; 2 Sam 5:4

Jesus ministry

Even Jesus waited for the right time to reveal himself. At the wedding in Cana, He said to His mother, My hour has not yet come John 2:4. Later he waited until Lazarus had died to visit Bethany so that God’s glory would be displayed through Lasarus’ resurrection. John 11:4-6

Each of these stories shows us that waiting is not a waste of time, it’s time when god is aligning circumstances, shaping our hearts, and preparing us for what’s next. Forcing God’s timing never ends well, it leads to pain and regret, but trusting God’s timing always brings about His greater purpose.

And even though many of us would agree that this is all true, we still struggle.

Our struggle often comes from impatience and a desire for control. We want to see results now, but God knows that character takes time to develop. We want immediate solutions, but God is working on eternal transformations. He is working an eternal timetable with the whole world in mind.

Conclusion

Waiting is never wasted in God’s kingdom. Through the disciples’ example, we see that waiting on God is never pointless—it is purposeful. It’s a time when God strengthens our faith, prepares our hearts, and shapes our character for what’s next.

Think about what the disciples did during their waiting season. They didn’t scatter or give up; they prayed constantly and prepared for the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise. They didn’t let fear or frustration dictate their actions. Instead, they sought God’s guidance and positioned themselves to receive what He had promised.

In our own lives, waiting often feels like being stuck. But when we look through the lens of faith, we realize that waiting is part of God’s process of equipping us. Maybe you are in a season where you’re waiting for God to move, to answer a prayer, or to open a door. Remember that while you wait, God is working.

He’s not just preparing the blessing for you—He’s preparing you for the blessing.

Today, I want to challenge you to see waiting differently. Instead of viewing it as a frustrating delay, consider it an invitation to deeper faith and greater readiness. Ask God to teach you what He wants you to learn in this season. Seek His guidance, just as the disciples did. Stay faithful in prayer, just as they did. And trust that He is working behind the scenes, even when you can’t see it.

And just as the disciples waited for the Holy Spirit with expectancy and readiness, we, too, are called to wait with hope. Because as we’ll see next week, their waiting was not in vain. On Pentecost, the Spirit was poured out, fulfilling the promise and launching the mission of the Church. The season of waiting became a season of power.

As we anticipate Pentecost next week, let’s hold on to that same sense of expectancy. Let’s believe that God’s timing is perfect and that His Spirit moves when the time is right.

Prayer time.