Waiting on God's Timing – Lessons from Joseph

Walking in the Word

Waiting on God's Timing – Lessons from Joseph.

Genesis 37–50

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles…” (Isaiah 40:31 (KJV))

Why Is Waiting So Hard?

I’m not an unusually impatient person, but I find waiting challenging. I don’t think I’m alone in this. As I consider the question, several answers come to mind. As humans adapting to our changing culture, we are wired for immediacy. Our culture values speed, efficiency, and instant results. Spiritually, this conflicts with God’s timing, which is often slow and deliberate.

Waiting feels like doing nothing. We associate progress with moving forward, so when we’re waiting, we feel stuck, unproductive, or even forgotten. Waiting reveals our natural discomfort with losing control. We like to manage outcomes. Waiting reminds us that we are not in control – God is.

Waiting tests faith. In waiting, the question always arises: Do I truly trust God to prove faithful? It can also bring real pain. It might mean longing for healing, reconciliation, provision, or justice—things that weigh heavily on our hearts.

Times We Wait in Life and as Christians

As I continue to reflect on this issue, it occurs to me that we spend a lot of time throughout life just waiting. The sooner we learn to wait, the better our mindset will be during those waiting moments. We encounter waiting in almost every season of life. Some of the most common include:

• Life Stages

  • Waiting to grow up (childhood to adulthood).

  • Waiting to finish school, graduate, or start a career.

  • Waiting to meet a spouse, get married, or have children.

  • Waiting to see children mature and walk with the Lord.

  • Waiting for retirement or the “next stage” of life.

• Daily Life

  • Waiting in traffic, checkout lines, or doctors’ offices.

  • Waiting for test results, news, or answers to important questions.

  • Waiting for problems to be resolved, conflicts to be healed, or relationships to be restored.

• Christian Walk

  • Waiting on answers to prayer.

  • Waiting on guidance for big decisions.

  • Waiting for healing, provision, or deliverance.

  • Waiting for revival in a church or a family member’s salvation.

  • Waiting for God to open doors of ministry or service.

  • Waiting for Christ’s return and the fullness of God’s kingdom.

When we read scripture with a focus on waiting, we realize that waiting isn't unique to us. The Bible is full of examples of waiting.

• Abraham and Sarah waited decades for a promised son.

• Israel waited 400 years in Egypt for deliverance.

• David waited years between being anointed king and actually ruling.

• Simeon and Anna waited their whole lives to see the Messiah.

• The church now waits for the return of Jesus.

So in short: waiting is tough because it conflicts with our desire for control and quick results, but God often does His deepest work in us while we wait. Waiting is one of the hardest disciplines in the Christian life. We often want answers, change, or fulfillment now. But God’s timing doesn’t follow our calendar — it follows His divine purpose. One of the clearest examples of this truth is the life of Joseph.

Joseph’s Journey: A Timeline of Waiting

• God gave Joseph dreams as a young man, showing he would rise to a position of leadership (Genesis 37:5–11). But he would wait over 20 years before those dreams were fulfilled.

• Betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery, Joseph was taken far from home — yet God was with him (Genesis 39:2).

• Falsely accused and imprisoned, Joseph spent years in a dungeon. He helped others, but was forgotten (Genesis 40:23).

• Then, suddenly, he is released from prison, but only after waiting another two years for the Cup Bearer to remember him to the Pharaoh for clemency.

• Later, Joseph could tell his brothers, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good…” (Genesis 50:20).

What Can We Learn?

1. Waiting Is Not Wasted

God used Joseph’s waiting periods to develop his character — from a prideful teen to a wise, humble leader. God is always working behind the scenes, even when we feel forgotten.

2. God’s Timing Is Perfect

If Joseph had been released earlier, he might have gone home — and missed God’s plan to use him in Egypt. God's delays are never without purpose. In God’s timing, after two years of waiting, the Pharaoh had a dream that no one could interpret. The Cup Bearer remembered Joseph interpreting his dream, and the rest is history. Joseph waited, and suddenly, at age 30, he was elevated to power – second only to Pharaoh – because God’s time had come (Genesis 41:39-41). He could have acted impatiently and reminded the Cup Bearer earlier, but he would have been released into obscurity.

3. Be Faithful While You Wait

Joseph served diligently in Potiphar’s house and even in prison. He didn’t waste time sulking — he remained faithful, and God honored that.

Questions for Reflection

1. Where in your life are you being asked to wait?
   What does trusting God in that area look like?

2. How are you making use of your “waiting season”?
   Are you growing, serving, preparing, or turning bitter?

3. Can you recall a delay that ended up being God's protection or preparation?
   What did you learn from it?

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Closing Prayer

Lord, teach me to trust Your timing. Help me remain faithful while I wait and to believe that You are working all things for my good and Your glory. Like Joseph, may I serve diligently today, knowing that You hold tomorrow. Amen.

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