When The Wait Feels Long, Remember these 5 Things.

Bola Olu-Jordan (Pastor Bo)
2 days ago
5 min read

Updated: 24 hours ago

How to Walk Through the Waiting Season with Faith and Endurance.

Man sitting thoughtfully by a lake at sunset with five biblical reminders from James 5:7–12 for seasons of waiting.

What do you do when the answer has not come, the situation has not changed, and the season feels longer than expected?

Waiting is easier when you know how long it will last.

If someone could tell you, “Just hold on until Friday,” you could probably gather yourself and make it to Friday. But what happens when Friday comes, and nothing changes? Another week passes. Then another month. You have prayed. You have believed God. You have done what you know to do, but the answer still has not come.

That is when waiting begins to wear on the heart.

Maybe you are there right now. You are waiting for a door to open, a situation to change, a prayer to be answered, or simply for some indication that what you have been believing God for is finally moving.

And perhaps the hardest part is not even the waiting. It is not knowing how much longer you will have to wait.

James writes directly into that kind of season.

In James 5:7–12, he does not simply tell believers to “be patient.” He shows us what to do while we wait. He gives us five things to remember when the wait feels long, and our hearts are tempted to grow weary.

Don’t rush to harvest what is not yet ripe.

So, if you are somewhere between what you have prayed for and what you have not yet seen, these five things are for you.

This is a call to endure before you enjoy.

1. Stay Patient Through the Process

Don't force the timeline. The book of Ecclesiastes says there is time and season for everything. The farmer doesn't rush the harvest when it’s not yet time; he waits until the rain has done its work and the fruit is ripe enough. Don’t rush to harvest what is not yet ripe. Often, what we call delay may be an appointed time. Your time of waiting is not wasted. If the stairs seem too long to climb, praise God in the hallway until the right time.

Bible Verse: Pressure reveals what's in your heart. Many grumble, murmur, and complain when they run out of patience, but God hates murmuring. Moses reminded Israel that their grumbling over lack of food was not against him and Aaron but against the Lord (Exodus 16:7-8). Paul also warned in 1 Corinthians 10:10 not to murmur because “some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.” When you stop trusting God's timing, you begin to blame the people around you. Murmuring invites only God’s wrath and judgment, so guard your mouth.

Bible Verse: Murmur not, brethren, one against another, that ye be not judged: behold, the judge stands before the doors. (James 5:9)

Warning: Don’t let the pressure of waiting bring you under judgment.

3. Learn From Those Who Endured Before You

You are not the first to endure while waiting on God. Some prophets suffered and endured pain not because they were evil, but because they followed the Lord. They stayed faithful. Let their example encourage you. Even Jesus endured. The writer of the book of Hebrews says, “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.” (Hebrews 5:8).

Imagine the Son of God had to suffer and endure to learn obedience. He is indeed our high priest and he was “touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15). Their suffering did not mean God had abandoned them. Their endurance became a testimony for everyone who would come after them.

Bible Verse: Take, brethren, for an example of suffering and of patience, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. (James 5:10)

Example: You have examples of those who passed through similar experiences and didn’t give up. Follow them.

Man sits on a lakeside bench at sunset beside poster text: When the Wait Feels Long... 5 Things, James 5:7-12. — When the Wait Feels Long: Five biblical reminders from James 5:7–12 for walking through a season of waiting with faith and endurance

4. Endure to the End, Not Just the Start

Job's story didn't end in suffering; it ended in God's mercy. Hebrews 3:14 tells us that “we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end.” This aligns with what Jesus said: “But he that endures to the end shall be saved.” (Matthew 10:22)

Starting in faith is good; remaining in faith is better. The happy ones are those who finish. Job’s story did not end with what he lost. Stay through the process long enough to discover that God is still compassionate and merciful even when you cannot understand the process.

Bible Verse: Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. (James 5:11)

Promise: God’s compassion and mercy await those who endure.

5. Let Your Word Be Enough

Pressure can make people say things they would never say in peaceful seasons. Don’t allow pressure to make you swear or say careless words. The book of Proverbs warns that death and life are in the power of the tongue. Refrain from outbursts, negative words, or harsh words from your pain, and control your tongue.

James says that if any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able to control his whole body. (James 3:2). Your tongue is a reflection of your mind. Don’t swear to prove yourself or a point. Let your yes be yes and your no be no.

Bible Verse: But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. (James 5:12)

Promise: You will not fall into condemnation.

Poster of a man on a bench at sunset by a lake, with text: When the Wait Feels Long... 5 Things, James 5:7-12.

When Does the Wait Feel Long for You?

Maybe you have been waiting so long that your heart has become tired. Maybe impatience has begun to turn into murmuring. Maybe you have started to question whether anything will change for the better. Or perhaps you are simply tired of enduring, don’t allow the length of the wait to weaken your faith in God.

James’ message is clear:

Guard your heart.
Don’t quit in the waiting.
Don’t murmur in the waiting.
Don’t abandon the example of those who endured before you.
Don’t stop before you see the end of the Lord.
And don’t let the pressure change who you are.

If you are in a season of waiting today, bring that matter before the Lord again. Ask Him not merely to change the situation, but to strengthen your heart until His purpose in that season is complete.

A Prayer for Strength While You Wait

Lord, give me grace to wait well. Strengthen my heart. Guard my mouth. Keep me faithful. Give me endurance, and let me live to see the mercy and compassion of the Lord.