Waiting is one of those aspects of life that I wish I could handle better. I desire answers quickly, seek clarity without hesitation, and want prompt action. Yet life keeps reminding me that waiting is both unavoidable and, at times, necessary.

I have reflected on different seasons of waiting in my life. I have tried to understand why it is so difficult for me and what has helped me get through it. In the process, I have realised that even waiting can bring surprising positives.

Why Is Waiting So Hard?

As a young woman, one of my deepest desires was to become a mother. During the first six years of my marriage, I faced the painful uncertainty of whether that dream would ever come true. My internal biological clock seemed to keep ticking louder, echoing the questions in my heart: Would motherhood ever be part of my story? Each month brought its own cycle of hope, disappointment, and the courage to try again.

That season of waiting helped me realise that the struggle often lies in the uncertainty. We long for answers, for certainty, and for the sense that everything is falling into place. Sometimes, however, we need to be still and trust that even in waiting, life is quietly doing its work.

Waiting becomes especially difficult when it touches our deepest desires. Longing for something good—a job, healing, a relationship, or a child—can make uncertainty feel overwhelming and leave us powerless. When that waiting is intertwined with pain—through illness, loneliness, or grief—it can seem almost unbearable.

It also heightens our awareness of time slipping by. For some, it’s linked to a biological clock or career milestones; for others, it’s the simple sense that life is moving forward without them. In such moments, waiting can feel less like a pause and more like falling behind.

What Helps in Times of Waiting?

Although we cannot control how long our season of waiting lasts, we can choose how we spend the time in between. Here are some practices that have helped me:

Meditation and Prayer: When we meditate and pray, waiting takes on new meaning. It is no longer just a time of silence and uncertainty, but a season of growth and transformation. In that quietness, we nurture patience, strengthen our faith, and find hope that anchors us. While it does not shorten the waiting, it transforms how we experience it. Instead of being consumed by frustration, we can carry the waiting with peace, trust, and even the quiet joy of God’s presence.

Creative Activities: Any activity that places me in a “flow state“, such as writing, painting, baking, or photography, has been helpful. I focus on something pleasant, so worry doesn’t consume my thoughts.

Moments of Wonder: Wonder lifts us above the heaviness of waiting. I often find it in nature: a sunset, the fine details of a flower through my camera lens, or the song of birds in the early morning. These moments remind me that I am a small part of a greater whole, and that there is far more order in the seeming chaos than I can see.

Words of Hope: I write down words that speak to me. They’re my anchors when I feel uncertain. When I’m feeling impatient, phrases such as “This season will not last forever” or “God has a plan for our lives” bring me relief.

What Good Can Come from Waiting?

Nelson Mandela’s life teaches us that waiting is never wasted time. For 27 years, he sat in prison, cut off from his family and from the cause to which he had devoted his life. Yet that long season of waiting was not empty—it was a time of preparation.

In the silence of confinement, Mandela learned patience and realised that change cannot be rushed. He gained insight into his enemies’ perspectives, learned forgiveness, and chose to lead with wisdom rather than anger. His time in prison enabled him to grow into the kind of leader the world needed—one who could unite rather than divide and transform bitterness into reconciliation. By the time he walked free in 1990, Mandela had become a symbol of hope, resilience, and justice. His story exemplifies how growth can occur even during difficult waiting periods.

The Bible affirms this same truth in the lives of God’s people. Abraham and Sarah waited years for the promised child. Joseph’s waiting shaped his character, deepened his faith, and positioned him to save nations during crisis. By the time David became king, his trials had shaped him into a leader after God’s own heart, able to guide Israel with both strength and humility. Each of these stories emphasises that waiting has purpose. It is a season of shaping, refining, and preparing. In waiting, God cultivates patience, deepens our faith, and aligns us with His perfect timing.

I love the Swahili saying: “Haraka haraka haina baraka” — “Hurry, hurry has no blessing.” Waiting may seem at odds with everything our fast-paced world values, but perhaps that slower rhythm carries its own hidden blessings. Waiting can turn impatience into trust, weakness into resilience, and longing into deeper dependence on our Creator.

A Final Thought

Waiting is never easy. It tests our patience and can sometimes leave us feeling frustrated, anxious, and alone. Yet it can also help us grow in surprising ways. It can open our eyes to blessings we might otherwise overlook. It teaches us to live with faith and trust, and it builds perseverance and emotional resilience.

I am certainly not yet good at waiting, but I am slowly learning that these seasons are not wasted. Even when they challenge me emotionally, they have the power to strengthen my character and my faith.

Warm regards,

Emsia