Waiting!

It’s something we can all relate to. 

From the small, everyday moments like watching the microwave countdown or finishing that last rep at the gym to the big, life-changing waits for test results, a job, a spouse, or for the arrival of a child.

Even my two-year-old experiences it. I can see the impatience on her face when she hands me a candy wrapper and waits for me to open it.

Eight years ago, God gave me an instruction that would test my patience in ways I never imagined: He told me to write a book. I just moved to Canada, and I was a confused 20-year-old trying to figure out next steps. I love writing and had written several unpublished stories as a child, but a book? That was different.

The more I ignored, the louder it became. Finally, I started writing, even though I didn’t know what I was supposed to write about. I’d open my laptop and just type, letting the words flow. As the years passed, the book’s purpose began to crystallize, and in 2022, I finally finished the manuscript.

I felt a strong urge to pursue traditional publishing. Anyone familiar with the industry knows how challenging this path can be, especially without a huge platform or millions of followers. My family and friends advised me to self-publish, but the more they suggested it, the more determined I was to go the traditional route. I should have listened, but I’ve always been drawn to the harder path.

Throughout 2022 and 2023, I pitched my manuscript to literary agents. The result? Over 50 rejections. Each “no” was a blow to my confidence, making me question if I was a good writer. After all the rejections, I was ready to give up on my writing career. I’d been at this for eight years – a long time to pursue a dream with no tangible results.

I began to focus my energy on other projects when I heard God say to write another book. I was livid! Why write another when the first one had been rejected? I threw tantrums and questioned why this would be anything but a waste of time.

After much internal struggle, I surrendered. I realized that living in disobedience was a sin. So, I started writing the new book, and now I’m back to pitching and waiting. 

It’s been eight years since that initial instruction from God, and sometimes, I wonder why it’s taking so long, but this time, I’m determined to wait differently. 

The first time around, I was miserable. My heart skipped a beat with every email notification, and I felt discouraged when others got book deals.

So, how am I waiting differently now? 

1. I cry and ask God questions. I feel some religious people coming for me. Who are you to question God? I’m human, and sometimes I feel down and discouraged; I feel tired and frustrated from waiting. Especially when it’s happening for others, it’s okay to cry or feel sorry for yourself at that moment, but never let it end there. Go back to God, and hold on to his promises in his word. Read and stay on the word and pray the word of God. If you have prophecies from God, hold on to them and continue to pray them to pass.

2. Remember you are dealing with someone who knows and holds your future. Joseph thought his life was delayed but he didn’t know the future. You never know what God is saving you from.

3. Let God slow you down. Waiting is a form of worship. It can be uncomfortable, and many times, however, waiting on the Lord will never be a waste of time.

4. Be comfortable with God scattering your plans. Many of us are planners and we have our lives planned out, but what if God never gives you that job or that thing you desperately desire? You must realize God is still God, and he is forever Good. If I never become traditionally published, I must still judge God faithful, and that’s on period. You need to get to the point where you decide to stick with God whether or not that thing you are waiting on happens.

5. Trust God. Trust him with your life. It won’t matter when it happens or if it happens because you trust him.

6. Celebrate with those who have what you are waiting on God for. I spend my money on books, and I’m always so joyful when I hear that someone just published a book. I always want to buy and read their stories and support them.

7. Pray, study the Word, and learn from Jesus, who is the greatest example of someone who waited well. The biggest lesson I’ve learned from Jesus is how to wait with purpose. Jesus didn’t begin His ministry until He was 30, yet He died at 33. He spent 30 years waiting. He was already engaging with teachers at the temple by age 12, and he most likely was performing miracles at home because for Mary to have told the servants to do whatever Jesus told them to do, she knew he was capable for turning water into wine. Despite all of this, it wasn’t yet His time, so He waited. Just like Jesus, you may have the capacity for something right now, but it may not be your time yet. Sometimes, God requires us to wait because a pruning process is necessary. His version of you—the one fit for the promise—needs to emerge. There are moments when you need to admit, “It’s not yet time,” because if you step into your purpose prematurely, it may kill you. In these seasons, God expects you to keep praying, keep studying His Word, keep working on your character, and keep holding onto the vision. Your wait is not idle—it’s preparation for what’s to come. Trust Him with the process, and know that His timing is always perfect.

Waiting is never easy, but remember that those who wait upon the Lord will have their strength renewed.