Learning to Rest in the Waiting Seasons

Waiting seasons can feel uncomfortable.

They’re the moments when things aren’t moving the way we expected, when growth feels quiet, and when answers don’t come as quickly as we’d like. As moms, those seasons can be especially hard — we’re used to doing, fixing, planning, and moving things forward.

But waiting has a way of slowing us down whether we’re ready for it or not.

One verse that’s been sitting with me lately is:

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

— Isaiah 40:31

I’ve read this verse so many times, but this season has made me notice something different — it doesn’t say those who rush ahead. It says those who wait.

Waiting isn’t wasted time. It’s not a pause where nothing is happening. It’s a place where God is working quietly, strengthening us in ways we can’t always see yet.

This time of year feels like a waiting season in a lot of ways. Winter moves slower. Life feels quieter. Progress doesn’t always feel obvious. And sometimes it’s tempting to believe we’re falling behind when really, we’re being invited to rest.

Rest doesn’t come naturally to most of us. We tend to equate rest with laziness or lack of discipline. But biblical rest isn’t about checking out — it’s about trusting that God is still working even when we’re not pushing.

If you’re in a season where answers are delayed, plans feel uncertain, or growth feels invisible, you’re not doing something wrong. You might just be in a waiting season.

And waiting, when done with trust, renews strength.

You don’t have to have everything figured out right now. You don’t have to rush the process. You’re allowed to move at the pace this season requires — even if that pace feels slower than you’d like.

God meets us in the waiting. He strengthens us there. And when it’s time to move forward, we won’t be weaker for having rested — we’ll be ready.

Prayer:

Lord, help us trust You in the waiting seasons. Teach us to rest without guilt and to believe that You are working even when things feel still. Renew our strength as we wait on You. Amen.