Waiting is one of life’s greatest challenges, but it is often where God does His deepest work. In this encouraging message from Isaiah 40:31, Johnny Doliente reminds us that waiting is not wasted time—it’s a season of preparation. Discover how trusting God’s timing, surrendering your plans, and remaining faithful in prayer can strengthen your faith and prepare you for His purpose. If you’re waiting for direction, provision, healing, or a breakthrough, this message will encourage you to keep trusting the One who is always at work, even when you can’t yet see it.
The Theology of ‘The Wait’
Waiting is one of the hardest parts of following God. We naturally want immediate answers, quick solutions, and clear direction. Yet throughout Scripture, we see that God often does His deepest work in us during the seasons when nothing seems to be happening. Isaiah 40:31 reminds us, “Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.”
Here are the truths I hope you take with you as you learn to trust God through every season.
1. Waiting is not wasted time—it is God’s working time
When we think about warfare, we often picture armies, nations, or conflicts throughout history. Yet the greatest battle we face is the ongoing war for our thoughts. The enemy seeks to influence how we think about God, ourselves, and others, but our struggle is not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12).
When we can’t see God moving, it’s easy to assume He isn’t doing anything. But the Bible tells a different story. Abraham waited 25 years for God’s promise. Joseph endured years of hardship before stepping into his calling. Moses spent decades in the wilderness before God used him to lead Israel. David waited years between his anointing and becoming king.
God wasn’t delaying them to punish them—He was preparing them.
Like the Chinese bamboo tree that develops deep roots before it suddenly grows, God often strengthens our character before revealing His blessing. Don’t mistake God’s silence for His absence. While you’re waiting for the miracle, He’s shaping the person who will receive it.
Scripture: Isaiah 40:31; Galatians 6:9
2. Trusting God means surrendering His timing—not just believing in His power
Most of us believe God can answer our prayers. The greater challenge is trusting when He chooses to answer.
Our anxiety often comes from deadlines we’ve created that God never established. Instead of trying to force open doors, we are called to surrender our hearts to Him each day and trust that He sees what we cannot.
Just as passengers trust a pilot to navigate storms they cannot see, we can trust that God is leading us even when the destination isn’t yet visible. His timing is never late—it is always purposeful.
When we surrender to Him, we discover confidence instead of fear, hope instead of worry, and peace instead of striving.
Scripture: Job 11:13–18
3. Strength is found in the wait
Isaiah doesn’t promise that waiting will be easy—it promises that God will renew our strength in the waiting.
Just as muscles become stronger through resistance, our faith grows when we continue trusting God under pressure. Waiting isn’t passive; it’s active dependence on the Lord. Rather than complaining about the length of the season, we can celebrate the work God is accomplishing within us.
The Hebrew word translated “wait” in Isaiah 40:31 carries the idea of being woven together with God. The longer we remain connected to Him, the more His strength becomes our strength.
Scripture: Isaiah 40:31; Romans 8:25; James 1:3–4
4. Powerful prayer begins with an honourable life
The story of Jabez is a reminder that the secret of powerful prayer isn’t a special formula, louder words, or a particular posture. It is a heart that is fully surrendered to God.
Even before God answered his prayer, the scripture describes Jabez as “more honourable than his brothers”. His life reflected dependence on the Lord, and his prayer flowed from that relationship.
God invites us to come before Him with clean hearts, willing to confess our sins, trust His goodness, and walk in obedience. Our private life with God shapes the power of our public prayers.
The question isn’t simply whether we’re trusting God for an outcome. The deeper question is whether we’re trusting Him for who He is—even if the answer takes longer than we expected.
Keep your eyes on the Gardener, not just the garden. Your waiting is not the end of your story. God is preparing you for what comes next, and His timing is always worth trusting.
Scripture: 1 Chronicles 4:9–10; Psalm 66:18; Job 11:13–18
Previously, by this speaker:
The Friend Who Stays (on Facebook)
Psalm 23 — God of the Valley (on Facebook)