What to Do While Waiting on God | Battle Drill Devotional (5-Minute Salvation Army Devotional) (James 1:4)

Waiting seasons can feel unbearable - but they’re never wasted. In this Battle Drill Devotional, we explore what to do while waiting on God when life stalls, prayers seem unanswered, and the future feels uncertain (James 1:4).

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Transcript

0:19

Hello and welcome. Today we're looking at what to do while waiting on God when life slows down. But your heart longs for change. What do you do while you're waiting on God? It's not a hypothetical question, is it? It's real. When the job offer hasn't come through, when that diagnosis is still unknown, when the prayer that you've prayed for months, maybe even years hasn't yet been answered, the waiting rooms are uncomfortable places. You might sit outside an interview room wondering if this is the moment that your life shifts. You might be waiting for the phone to ring with news from the hospital. You might be standing at the window, scanning the road for your child's safe return. And in those moments, your mind can spiral. Have I missed God's voice somewhere? Has he gone quiet? Is something wrong? James gives us a better picture. He writes so let it grow. For when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James chapter one, verse four. In other words, don't rush to the door. Grow in Hawaii. Endurance isn't about gritting your teeth until the clock runs down. It's about trusting that God is at work when you can't yet see the results. Waiting isn't wasted time when God is using it to shape your heart. He strengthens your hope. He trains your soul to breathe, to pray, and to listen. That's what helps you move forward in faith and obedience. When your circumstances feel hard or uncertain. So what does this look like in real life? Start with still prayer. You don't need an hour. Just five minutes will do. Sit somewhere quiet. Breathe the name of Jesus. Hand him your worry. Ask him to guide you. Read a short passage of Scripture, a psalm, a parable, a few verses from the Gospels. Hold one phrase in your heart all day. And when fear knocks. Speak that truth out loud. You can also choose small acts of love. It could be a phone call to check in on someone, a meal for a neighbor, the quiet donation where there's a need in the Salvation Army. I've seen this again and again. People in really tough seasons who step into simple service. And God meets them there. You're not trying to twist God's arm with your actions. You're simply keeping your heart open and soft while you wait. The other thing to do is to guard your words carefully. Waiting contemptuous towards frustration or complaint. So ask God to sit at guard over your mouth. Choose to speak hope. To speak. Truth. To speak. Thanks for even the smallest signs of his care. And then take the time to name the lesson. Waiting is a classroom, not a punishment. So ask Lord, what are you teaching me in this season? Maybe it's patience. Maybe it's humility. Maybe it's a deeper way to trust. Write it down. Share it with a trusted friend who can pray with you as you grow. You know, I've known some long waits myself. At times, I tried to fix the delay by pushing harder, by filling my calendar, by trying to make something happen. But then that only left me tired and worn out. When I slowed down, when I let God set the pace, the weight started to lift. Of course, the waiting didn't end overnight, but my heart changed. Peace replaced panic. Strength replaced strain. You are not stuck. You are being formed. God isn't late. His timing for you is perfect. Even when it feels painfully slow. So what do you do while waiting on God? You keep praying. You keep loving. You keep trusting. And you let your endurance grow. Here's today's thought starter for you. Where do you sense God asking you to grow while you wait? And what's one small step you could take today to move forward in trust? Let's pray. Lord, I place my waiting in your hands. Grow endurance in me. Teach me to pray. To serve and to speak. Hope while I wait. Leave me by your word. Shape my heart to trust your timing and your care. In Jesus name, Amen. I'll see you next time as we take another step forward together in following Jesus.