Trusting God While You Wait - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - January 30, 2026
“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him” (Lamentations 3:25, NIV).
Before I met my husband Ben, I'd been single for 22 years. Year after year, I'd ask my mom (and God): "When do you think I'll finally meet the one?" Almost on repeat, she'd utter the same empathetic answer: "I don't know, honey, I'm not God. But I know that if He's having you wait, that man will be worth the wait."
My mom was right. Ben was and has been more than worth the wait. But during the waiting, the long nights, and the dreaded holiday single, it certainly didn't feel that way. I felt like God had forgotten me or was ignoring my prayers altogether. Little did I know, He was orchestrating His master plan.
The book of Lamentations that we see here in the verse for today was also written in a similar period. Instead of mourning over singleness and isolation, the author wrote from a deep grief and national loss. Jeremiah isn't ignoring his pain; he's writing from it. And smack dab in the middle of his sorrow, we read line 25: "The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him" (NIV). Note: The verse doesn't say the Lord is good to those who get what they want after begging the Lord time and time again.
The beauty of this Scripture is that just as Jeremiah sought the Lord in the middle of his pain, not after it was resolved, so can we. Why? Because God's goodness isn't proven by how quickly we get the answer or even how easily it comes. No, God's goodness is revealed in the quiet faithfulness of waiting and seeking Him, especially as we continue to wait. Especially as the answers continue to be delayed and we must learn to rely utterly and entirely on Him.
God is good. His character doesn't change. These are grounding facts we must cling to when 1. things don't go our way, and 2. answers to prayers seem delayed. As humans, we're often tempted to believe that if God isn't answering, we've done something wrong, or He isn't listening. But have you ever paused to think that maybe, just maybe, the Lord is still present, He's just waiting for the perfect time? The right answer?
Those who place their hope in the Lord, regardless of the outcome or the answers to the prayers they've been praying, will experience His goodness. And that's a promise. They will experience this goodness because they actively seek Him with honesty and imperfection.
When Jeremiah brought his troubles before the Lord, those prayers were raw, broken, honest, active, and fragmented. He didn't try to cover up the severity of the situation or "look on the bright side." Instead, he presented the situation as it was to the Lord, but he also reminded his soul of who God is and who God is not, regardless of the external circumstances.
And when I brought my heart, my whole heart, to the Lord about being single, that's when I received peace. Because I was no longer clinging to what I couldn't control. I trusted in His timing and faithful character, even when it didn't make sense and even when His answers seemed painfully slow.
If you're struggling with waiting today, you're in good company. God desires to hear from you, where you are, complaints and all. But hear this: Waiting doesn't mean God is absent. It means He has something better in store that we can't quite see yet. Like a painter completing a beautiful tapestry, we can only catch glimpses of the portrait until it's fully completed. Our job is to continue seeking the Lord in these places—even when we don't have it all together. In fact, honest and sincere seeking requires just that, coming as we are. And this hope that we cling to? It's not ignorant optimism. It's choosing to trust who God is, even when our circumstances give no evidence yet.
No matter where you are today or what things you're actively seeking the Lord for, if His answers seem slow, it's okay. It's okay to be mad, frustrated, and confused. But don't stay in that place. Use these feelings as an opportunity to honestly and openly reflect on these questions:
• Where am I waiting right now?
• Am I demanding answers or choosing to seek God above all?
• What would it look like to anchor my hope in who God is and not what I want Him to do?
Dear Jesus, waiting can be so painful. When we don't yet see the outcome, please help us seek you here. Help us to trust you. Teach us to see and know your goodness apart from our circumstances. Remind us that you are good even in the waiting, and your best is still in store. We love, praise, and thank you, Jesus. Amen.
Related Resource: How to Stop Comparing Your Prayer Life and Start Praying for Real
Have you ever listened to someone pray and thought, Well… I’ll never sound like that? In this encouraging conversation, Donna Jones sits down with author and speaker Shellie Tomlinson to talk about the comparison trap in prayer—and how to get free from it. Shellie shares why God isn’t looking for “perfect prayers” or spiritual clones. He wants you. We unpack simple, practical habits that help you linger with God, stop quitting when your mind wanders, and remember that prayer isn’t the goal—a deeper relationship with Jesus is. Shellie shares one simple reminder about approaching God in prayer that I’m sure I’ll never forget. You don’t want to miss it! If this episode of That's Just What I Needed helped you prioritize what matters most, be sure to follow the show on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
