Waiting on God can be one of the hardest parts of the Christian life. When our prayers seem unanswered and God’s timing doesn’t match our own, we’re often tempted to take matters into our own hands. We convince ourselves that we know what’s best, or that if God isn’t moving fast enough, we need to make something happen. But how often do our plans fall apart when we run ahead of Him?
Jesus reminds us in John 15:5 that apart from Him, we can do nothing. Like a branch separated from the vine, anything we try to build in our own strength will eventually wither. What may look promising at first can quickly turn to ashes when God is not at the center of it. True fruit, lasting fruit, only comes when we remain connected to Christ and trust Him enough to wait for His direction.
The good news is that God’s delays are never without purpose. While we’re waiting, He is often working behind the scenes. He’s busy preparing our hearts, shaping our character, and arranging circumstances in ways we can’t see. Instead of running ahead, may we learn to stay close to the Vine, trusting that God’s plans are always better than anything we could accomplish on our own. The safest place we can be is not ahead of God or behind Him, but walking beside Him, one faithful step at a time.
