Waiting on God is trust in His timing: they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength (Isaiah 40:31), Wait on the LORD: be of good courage (Psalm 27:14), The LORD is good unto them that wait for him (Lamentations 3:25-26), and though the vision tarry, wait for it (Habakkuk 2:3).
Waiting on God is more than killing time—it is hoping in His character while His answer is not yet visible. These twelve King James passages focus on waiting for the LORD and His timing—distinct from our patience page, which stresses longsuffering and enduring people and trials.
Wait on the LORD
1. Isaiah 40:31
"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles. Waiting renews strength; it does not drain it forever.
2. Psalms 27:14
"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart. Courage and waiting belong together.
3. Psalms 37:7
"Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass."
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him. Resting and waiting quiet fretting over others' success.
4. Psalms 62:5
"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him."
My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. Expectation is aimed at God alone.
Good to those who wait
5. Lamentations 3:25-26
"The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD."
The LORD is good unto them that wait for him… It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. Waiting is hope with quietness.
6. Isaiah 30:18
"And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him."
And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you… blessed are all they that wait for him. God also waits—to show grace; blessed are those who wait for Him.
7. Micah 7:7
"Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me."
Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. Looking and waiting trust that God hears.
8. Psalms 130:5-6
"I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning."
I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope… more than they that watch for the morning. Waiting is word-fueled hope, eager as dawn-watchers.
When the vision tarries
9. Habakkuk 2:3
"For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry."
Though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. God's appointed vision arrives on time—even when it feels late.
10. Psalms 40:1
"I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry."
I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. Patient waiting is met by God's attentive ear.
11. Ecclesiastes 3:11
"He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end."
He hath made every thing beautiful in his time. Beauty is tied to God's time, not ours.
12. Psalms 25:5
"Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day."
Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. Waiting can fill the whole day under God's lead.
A short prayer
Lord, I wait on You. Renew my strength; quiet my fretting; and make everything beautiful in Your time. Teach me to hope in Your word while I watch for morning. In Jesus' name, amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
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Frequently asked questions
What Bible verse is about waiting on God?
Isaiah 40:31, Psalm 27:14, Lamentations 3:25-26, and Habakkuk 2:3 are among the most shared.
Where does the Bible say they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength?
Isaiah 40:31.
How is waiting on God different from patience?
Patience often means enduring trials and people with longsuffering. Waiting on God specifically trusts His timing and looks to Him for salvation and strength.
What if God's answer seems late?
Habakkuk 2:3: though it tarry, wait for it; it will surely come. Psalm 130 models eager hope in His word while you wait.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Bible verses about patience · Bible verses on hope · Bible verses about trusting God · Bible verses about faith · Bible verses about never giving up
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