Description

 Waiting with Hope

How Waiting Transforms Our Faith and Prepares Us for God’s Promises

Waiting is one of life’s most challenging experience. It requires patience, trust, and surrender—all these virtues are difficult to practice in a world of instant gratification. Yet, the Bible is filled with stories of waiting: Abraham and Sarah waiting for Isaac, the Israelites waiting for deliverance, and Mary awaiting  the birth of the Savior. Through their journeys, we see that    waiting, when embraced with hope, is not passive but transformative.

Waiting with hope transforms our faith because it teaches us to trust God’s timing over our own. When answers to our prayers seem delayed, it is easy to become anxious or discouraged. However, in the silence and stillness of waiting, we are reminded that God’s plans are far greater than anything we could imagine. As Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Hope-filled waiting shapes our hearts, molding us into people who rely not on our own understanding but on God’s promises. It deepens our relationship with Him, as we learn to depend on His Word and remain steadfast in prayer. Just as a seed takes time to germinate before sprouting, our faith grows stronger in the unseen work God is doing behind the scenes.

Waiting also prepares us for God’s promises by refining us. In the process of waiting, we are often stretched and strengthened. We learn patience, humility, and resilience. Much like gold refined in fire, waiting purifies our motives and aligns our desires with God’s will. The waiting period is not wasted; it is a time of preparation where God works within us, equipping us for the blessings and responsibilities ahead.

Consider the example of Mary during the Advent season. Her waiting was filled with faith and hope, even as she faced uncertainty. Mary’s “yes” to God’s plan was not merely a one-time act of trust but an ongoing journey of surrender. In her waiting, she exemplified the hope that comes from believing in God’s faithfulness.

For us, waiting with hope means anchoring ourselves in the promises of the Scripture. It means choosing to trust that God is working all things for our good (Romans 8:28), even when we cannot yet see the outcome. It means finding joy in the present moment, knowing that God’s presence is with us even as we wait.

Waiting is never easy, but it is always meaningful. It transforms us from people who strive for control into people who rest in God’s sovereignty. It prepares us to receive His promises with hearts that are ready and faith that is strong.

As we wait for God’s promises in our lives—whether it be an answered prayer, a fulfilled dream, or a season of healing—let us wait with hope. For in the waiting, we are drawn closer to God, and in His perfect time, we will see His promises come to fruition. As Lamentations 3:25 reminds us, “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.”

Sr. Veronica Fatoyinbo, SNDdeN