Waiting Quietly Before God: Finding Rest in Uncertainty
Have you ever seen a child fighting sleep when you know they’re tired? It’s one of the funniest things to witness because, as an adult, you understand they are exhausted. But as a child, they struggle to grasp that whatever they’re afraid of missing will still be there tomorrow.
I think this reflects how we, as children of God, often respond while waiting for Him to reveal the next steps in our lives. We become anxious. We fret. We try to figure out the best options based on our own strengths. We research ideas and pathways to navigate uncertainty.
Yet what we truly need is rest.
Learning Dependence on God
God often leads us to places where full dependence on Him is required. Sometimes that dependence looks like taking bold and courageous steps. Other times, it looks like quietly waiting for the Lord and resisting the urge to act on our own strength.
Have you ever noticed how easy obedience feels when all the steps are clearly laid out? But obedience becomes much harder when the instruction is simply to be still and trust God’s timing.
The Illusion of Control
I won’t lie—I’m not particularly good at being still. Don’t get me wrong, I love physical rest and sleep. But when it comes to uncertainty, I can drive myself crazy. There’s something about needing to know that gives the illusion of control.
In reality, though, any control we thought we had was just that—an illusion. God has always been orchestrating our lives behind the scenes, even using our mistakes and misfortunes for His greater purpose.
Waiting Quietly Is an Act of Courage
In Psalm 62, David speaks directly to the state of his soul. Waiting quietly before the Lord during times of attack, disappointment, discouragement, and crisis is not passive—it is courageous. Choosing not to act on impulse or rely on our own strength is a profound surrender of control to God.
These verses remind us that God alone brings victory over our circumstances.
God Is Our Refuge
To find refuge in God means He is our safe space. When people fail us, timelines fall apart, plans unravel, and even our own bodies feel unreliable, God’s character remains unshakable.
Just as a baby must learn to trust that their parents know what’s best, we must also learn to trust that God knows what is best for us. He has a perfect timeline for our desires. He understands what we need and the experiences that will shape and enrich our lives.
We must learn not to allow circumstances to dictate our emotions.
A Gentle Invitation to Rest
When anxiety and fear threaten your faith, command your soul to wait quietly before the Lord. When envy creeps in—making you feel left behind or out of sync with others—remind yourself that the victory you’re waiting for will come from God, and God alone.
Don’t let your circumstances lead you to despair. Instead, pour out your heart to Him. Weep. Grieve. Lament with a trusted friend or family member. And then, choose to trust Him.
Today’s devotion inspired by // Psalm 62:5-8 NLT
Reflect & Journal // Where in your life are you struggling to wait quietly before God, and what might it look like to release control in that area today? When uncertainty triggers anxiety or comparison, how can you intentionally remind your soul that your victory and timing come from God alone?