Post Updated October 23rd, 2025
No one really likes to wait, especially when it’s for something that we think we need right now. As Christians we are always told to exercise patience (Psalm 27:14). Not only because it is one of the fruits of the Spirit but also because it is just expected of us. Growing up I always heard the phrase “Patience is a virtue” and took that to be a characteristic that a proper young lady and good Christian should always have. But no one ever told me what to do in the wait. I had to go searching to find out what to do while waiting on answered prayer.
Practicing patience doesn’t always come easily. When we pray, we often expect God to answer quickly and in the exact way we imagined. I’ll admit, God has answered many of my prayers, but not always in the ways I expected. But God does answer prayer.
Although some of our prayers are answered quickly, life teaches us that patience is indeed a part of the process. When your children come and ask you for something they need or want sometimes the request is answered right away and sometimes, they must wait. The wait doesn’t change the level of your love for them, and it is the same with God, our heavenly Father. Here are 5 things I learnt to do while waiting on an answer from God.
#1 Continue to Pray
I know this one can be quite controversial because we are often told by well-meaning Christians to pray about it and leave it there. This means that once you pray about it there is no need to continue asking Him to fix, do, supply etc. I was so conscious of this as a young Christian, trying to remember not to ask God the same thing too many times, as if He would get annoyed at me for doing so.
As I grew in my faith and read the story of The Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1-8) I understood that although God knows our needs because He is ‘All knowing’, He wants us to continue asking and seeking Him for the answers to our prayers.
Prayer Opens the Communication…
Prayer opens the communication between the Creator and the created. It is intimate time spent with God who delights in you (Psalm 147:11). Your persistence in continued prayer shows Him how much you trust and rely on Him for the answer, even an answer that is delayed. In Daniel 10, Daniel had been praying and fasting for 21 days regarding the end to the exile of God’s people. It was not until Daniel 10:12 that he was told that his prayer had been answered from the first day he prayed.
Another example of persistent prayer comes to us from 1 Samuel where we are told about a barren woman named Hannah who desperately wanted a son. Although some may argue that the Bible never specifically states that she prayed persistently or more than once for a son, we can easily draw this conclusion. We are told that Elkanah her husband has two wives and year after year (1 Samuel 1:3) he went with his two wives from his town to worship and sacrifice to the Lord.
Peninnah, the other wife, constantly taunted Hannah because she had no children. The cruelty wore heavily on Hannah’s heart. In her deep anguish, she prayed to the Lord and made a vow to Him, as described in 1 Samuel 1:10.
1 Samuel 1:12 tells us that Hannah kept on praying to the Lord which is our first indication of her persistence in prayer. In 1 Samuel 1:13, we see Hannah praying silently from her heart, her lips moving but her voice unheard. Her prayer shows the depth of her relationship with God. She trusted that even when no one else could hear her, He could. Hannah’s persistence paid off, and in 1 Samuel 1:20, God fully answered her prayer.
#2 Study God’s Word
When your prayers seem unanswered or your faith feels weak, dive deeper into God’s Word. Search for scriptures that speak directly to your situation or prayer request. The Bible offers guidance for every part of life. Whether you’re praying for healing, financial breakthrough, comfort, or wisdom, God’s Word provides the truth and encouragement you need.
If you are able to find a quiet place to read your Bible, practice saying some of the scriptures out loud. This will help you to hear the word (Romans 10:17) and retain it. I like to look up the definitions of words when I am studying, even the ones I think I know. When you see the actual definition of a word it further drives home the meaning and how it applies to your request of God.
This is soo much easier to do nowadays with smart phones where you have the option to complete a web search of the word by simply highlighting the word and selecting ‘websearch’. I also like to read the passage using several versions of the Bible which helps tremendously in understanding what you are reading.
2 Timothy 2:15-22 admonishes us to study the word not only for the benefit of ourselves but so that we can also correctly teach it to others. This brings me to my third point.
#3 Help Someone Else
While waiting on God to answer a prayer look for opportunities to help someone along the way. Mary Rose McGeady was a Catholic nun who said “There is no greater joy, nor greater reward than to make a fundamental difference in someone’s life”. I know this can be a lot to ask sometimes. We can’t fathom how we can possibly help someone else when we are in need ourselves.
The story of the widow of Zarephath in 1 Kings always comes to mind. She faced a desperate crisis, struggling to provide for herself and her son. When Elijah arrived and asked her for food, his request must have sounded impossible. She was down to her last meal and preparing for death for her and her son. I can imagine her staring at him in disbelief, wondering how he could possibly ask for that.
Elijah spoke a word from God (1 Kings 17:14) to convince her to use her last bit of food to prepare a meal for him. After she obeyed, God blessed her with a miraculous, never-ending supply of flour and oil. Later, because of her obedience, God brought her son back to life after he died from illness (1 Kings 17:17–22). Talk about an incredible blessing!
We may never face a call as drastic as giving our last meal to a stranger, but Proverbs 11:25 reminds us that those who refresh others will also be refreshed. Although we should not help others with the expectation of receiving anything back from the person we helped (Luke 6:35-36, Hebrews 13:16), when we help others we help ourselves, even if it only serves to fulfil us while we wait on an answered prayer.
#4 Give Thanks
I am sure you are wondering “Why give thanks when the prayer hasn’t been answered yet?”. Besides the Bible instructing us to do so (1 Thessalonians 5:18), an attitude of gratitude is just good for the soul. I don’t think there is one religion or theology that does not practice some form of gratefulness. The Bible mentions thankfulness more than 100 times
When we go to God with a grateful heart, we are not only thanking Him for the answer to come, but also for all that He has already done for us and what He will do in the future. We are letting Him know that even if the answer does not come the way we expect, we trust He will do the best thing for us according to His word in Romans 8:28 and His perfect will.
Gratitude brings peace to our hearts while we wait and takes away the fear and anxiousness we may otherwise feel. Philippians 4:6-7 describes it as a peace that transcends all human understanding. I certainly want that kind of peace in my life.
#5 Talk to Other Believers
It is important to have a few Christian friends that we can talk to. Notice I said a few, because you must be selective about who you share your good, bad and ugly days with. Proverbs 12:26 tells us to choose our friends wisely. This even applies to Christian friends. You must realize that not everyone’s faith or spiritual maturity is at the same level. That is not a terrible thing because we know that we are all given a measure of faith (Romans 12:3) but 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, when talking about the gifts of the Spirit, talks about the gift of faith which indicates another level of faith, perhaps a stronger faith.
When You are Waiting on God…
When you are waiting on God to answer a prayer, there may be times when you feel discouraged. These are the times when having another human listening ear who knows God’s word and who can perhaps share some personal testimony with you, will be a great asset. Talk to them about how you are feeling. Make sure it is someone that you can be authentic and honest with; someone who will give you Godly advice and keep your business confidential if that is your request. Paul told the Thessalonians this in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 where he advised them to encourage one another. Let’s face it, sometimes we just need someone to talk to!
Yes, waiting on God to answer your prayer can be difficult but I encourage you to be persistent. Remind yourself and Him of His word through continuous study and look for opportunities to help someone along the way. Continue giving Him thanks despite how you feel and when the waiting game gets a bit discouraging, call a friend who can help, even if all you want them to do is listen….. hmmm….. maybe over a cup of tea!
