Let’s be honest—waiting on the Lord can feel like standing in the slowest line at the grocery store while every other line is flying by. You watch other people get what they’ve prayed for. You scroll through pictures of their engagement rings, wedding days, and happy anniversaries. You hear about promotions, new homes, pregnancies, and answered prayers—and you feel like God forgot to call your number.
And when you’re tired of waiting, the temptation is to take matters into your own hands. To lower the bar. To settle for “good enough” instead of God’s best.
But here’s the truth you don’t want to hear—settling isn’t just a bad choice. It’s a faith problem.
The Lie That Fuels Settling
At the root of impatience is a whispered lie:
“If I wait on God, I’ll end up empty. He’ll forget me. I need to make something happen for myself.”
That’s not just doubt—it’s rebellion wrapped in fear. It’s saying with your choices what you’d never dare say out loud:
“God, I don’t trust You to write my story.”
Whether it’s the single woman who dates the man she knows isn’t pursuing Jesus…
Or the married woman who gives her heart away to fantasy because her husband feels distant…
Or the businesswoman who cuts corners because God’s timing on provision feels too slow…
Or the widow who fears life has passed her by…
The problem underneath is the same: we stop believing that God is good, and we start grasping for control.
The Kitchen Table Stories
Louise and I have sat at our kitchen table more times than I can count, listening to women tell us through tears that they took matters into their own hands. They settled for less than God’s best—only to realize years later that not only was it a mistake, but now they’re in deep pain.
Some have told us, “I thought I could make it work. I thought God was taking too long. I thought I knew better.” And now the consequences feel crushing.
We have watched this send women into depression, and sometimes even despair. And oh, how the enemy loves to rush into that mess! He whispers, “You blew it. You ruined your life. God won’t use you now.” He’s a liar, but in those moments, his accusations feel loud and believable.
The Dangerous Trade
When you settle, you trade eternal joy for temporary relief. You silence the ache for a moment, but you set yourself up for deeper pain later. And here’s the thing—God loves you too much to bless what you’ve grabbed for in impatience.
You might think you’re “moving forward,” but outside His will, you’re just walking in circles in the desert.
Isaiah 30:18 says:
“Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore He exalts Himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him.”
God isn’t late. He isn’t distracted. He’s never forgotten you. He is waiting—not because He’s cruel—but because He’s working for your good in ways you can’t see yet.
The Glory in the Waiting
Waiting is never wasted when your eyes are fixed on Christ.
It’s in the waiting that He cuts away idols.
It’s in the waiting that He strengthens your faith.
It’s in the waiting that He protects you from what you would have run into if He said “yes” too soon.
Sometimes, the greatest mercy God gives you is a “not yet.”
A Better Way Forward
If you’re tempted to settle, hear this:
- Your life is not on pause. Waiting on God is not wasting time—it’s preparing your heart for the blessing He will give or the grace He will sustain you with if the blessing looks different than you imagined.
- Your worth is not tied to your relationship status, job title, bank account, or children. Your worth is anchored in Christ—unchanging, secure, eternal.
- Your obedience matters now. The decisions you make today will shape the life you live tomorrow.
The Gospel Hope
You can wait well because Jesus already secured your future. At the cross, He proved He will never withhold what you need most—Himself. If He has already given you His life, you can trust Him with your timeline.
And when you blow it—and we all do—there is grace. Grace that forgives your grasping. Grace that restores your weary heart. Grace that sets your feet back on the path of trust.
So, sister—don’t settle for the man who talks spiritual but doesn’t walk spiritual. Don’t settle for less integrity because the promotion is shiny. Don’t settle for less purity because you think you’re running out of time. Don’t settle for less faith because fear feels easier.
The One who bled for you is writing your story. Trust Him enough to wait for His best.
I love you, sister,
Pastor Charlie