We live in a culture that encourages speed. Real-time updates, instant replies, and same-day delivery. Faster results reinforce the thought that waiting is a problem to be solved.
We don’t talk about waiting positively. Most of the time, waiting is seen as a nuisance that slows us down, interrupts our plans, or hinders our progress in life. We’re conditioned to believe faster is better and immediate is ideal.
What Intentional Waiting is Not
It is important to distinguish intentional waiting from unhealthy patterns. Intentional waiting is not procrastination, indecision, avoidance, fear, or passivity.
The difference between healthy choices and unhealthy lifestyle patterns lies in awareness. Intentional waiting is an active choice that is rooted in clarity, not fear.
The Quiet Strength of Intentional Waiting
Intentional waiting is the practice of choosing to pause. It’s the decision to create space spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Intentional Waiting Enlarges Our Spiritual Capacity
Mental, emotional, and physical health are vital components for our overall well-being, but we will not experience wholeness without intentional waiting before the Lord.
Waiting before the Lord allows the Lord God Almighty to commune with our spirit man. In His Presence, our spirit man is renewed and strengthened, which encourages our hearts and shifts our perspective.
This shift in perspective enlarges our spiritual capacity. What once was overwhelming now seems manageable. What once appeared dark now has illumination. We begin to see depth and outline, bringing understanding to our hearts and clarity to our minds.
Intentional Waiting Strengthens Our Resolve for Mental Well-Being
Our minds are constantly processing information, expectations, and decisions. Refusing to pause can lead to mental static. We can begin to react quickly or impulsively because we won’t give ourselves the space to think clearly.
Most of our mental distress comes from living in a constant state of urgency. We feel pressured to make an immediate decision, answer, or fix something in our lives. But urgency is often a false alarm.
Intentional waiting interrupts the patterns of urgency and false alarms. It gives us permission for moments of reflection. When we choose to wait before deciding, answering, or fixing, we strengthen our ability to respond and avoid a hasty reaction.
Our reflections strengthen our ability to stay grounded, no matter what our circumstances. We make room to distinguish urgency from importance. We can sort through what’s real and what’s imagined, or what’s truth and what’s fabrication. This mental discipline builds resilience.
Intentional Waiting Restores our Emotional Equilibrium
Intentional waiting can restore our emotional equilibrium when we take the time to process our emotions. When we practice emotional self-care, we allow the exchange of unhealthy emotions for healthy ones. Unprocessed emotions can lead to irritation, frustration, a frayed heart, and an unrestrained mouth.
It is vital that we not bottle up our feelings. Journaling is a safe way to process our emotions. We can be honest with ourselves, practice self-forgiveness, extend forgiveness to others, and come to a place of peace as we process a relationship or situation on paper.
When we come to a place of gratefulness, we will be better off. If a relationship or situation is especially trying and difficult, cultivating an attitude of gratitude will relieve our hearts, minds, and emotions of the turmoil, bringing a prevailing peace.
- What am I feeling right now?
- What do I actually need?
- What is mine to carry, and what is mine to release?
- What is real, and what is just noise?
This kind of self-awareness is impossible when we’re rushing. Waiting gives us the space to regain our footing, reconnect with our priorities, and remember our values. Waiting gives us the ability to recalibrate. Equilibrium isn’t about perfection; it’s about alignment. Intentional waiting helps us to become well-grounded and fully centered.
Intentional Waiting Renews Our Physical Strength
Intentional waiting takes intentional planning for times of physical rest. Our bodies need “downtime” to heal and rejuvenate.
We often forget our bodies can keep a record of our pace. Constant rushing activates our body’s stress response. Our muscles tighten, our heart rate elevates, and our energy reserves drain. This means that even when we are physically stationary, our bodies can be in an internal state of sprinting.
Our intentional pause can help our muscles release tension, our nervous system shift toward calm, and our energy levels replenish.
These small “pause” moments accumulate into our overall physical well-being. They help us recover from the invisible wearied test of daily life. Waiting intentionally gives our bodies permission to renew and heal, leading to overall rejuvenation.
The Transformational Power of Intentional Waiting
When we wait with intention, each dimension of our being responds to the stillness. Spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically, we build resilience.
He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. ~Isaiah 40:29-31 NASB
Intentional waiting teaches us that not every thought needs to be acted on immediately, not every emotion needs to be expressed publicly, and our bodies cannot function properly unless we refuel.
Intentional waiting is the art of choosing to pause. It’s the deliberate act of shifting from urgency to awareness of our spiritual capacity, mental well-being, emotional equilibrium, and physical strength.
Intentional waiting is one of the few practices that touches every layer of our being at once. Choosing to pause will help us to become more grounded, aligned with our values, and whole. Waiting with intention leads us to a life of wholeness and strength.
Prayer of Blessing
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ~1 Thessalonians 5:23 NASB
Recommendations
3 Steps in How to Wait on the Lord – Strength with Dignity
How to Examine the Soil of Our Hearts – Strength with Dignity
How to Find God – Strength with Dignity
References
New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995), copyright 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.
Bible Gateway Blogger Grid Member #bgbg2 #BibleGateway
11 thoughts on “Exploring Intentional Waiting”
You’ve named so many benefits from intentional waiting, Lisa, giving us all the more reason to put it into practice. And I couldn’t agree more: waiting in God’s presence with an attitude of gratitude is an important element, as it “relieves our hearts, minds, and emotions of the turmoil, bringing a prevailing peace.”
Intentional waiting makes such a difference, Nancy! And His peace changes everything! [I apologize for the delayed response, I was traveling.]
I am glad you dug into the difference between healthy waiting and waiting that encourages bad habits like procrastination and avoidance.
Stopping by from One Word – April
It is always good to be aware of the reasoning behind our waiting, Barb, to analyze whether it is healthy or unhealthy.
Such a great challenge and SO countercultural. We’re an instant gratification bunch and we need more quiet time spent waiting in the presence of God.
Waiting in His Presence makes a huge difference in our perspective on life, Michele.
Such a great post, Lisa! Learning to choose the pause of “intentional waiting” is difficult, but important. It can also possibly be life-changing at the right moments. Thanks for sharing your wisdom.
So true, Lisa, learning to pause and intentionally wait upon the Lord is life-changing!
Thank you for your blog… I really enjoyed it.
While reading, I kept thinking: this connects so clearly to my one word—patience. I find myself looking for the overlap… and it’s here: in choosing not to rush.
Not passive waiting (or dramatic sighing while checking the time 😄), but intentional, aware waiting… where something real is being formed.
Patience is not just enduring delay; it is recognizing that God is already at work in the waiting.
Great insights, Aritha! “Patience is recognizing that God is already at work in the waiting.” Intentional waiting brings us into His Presence, Aritha, and it’s in His Presence that we are transformed. The fruits of the Spirit show forth the internal transformation He has brought forth in our hearts and spirits.
“Urgency is often a false alarm” – oh, so very true! Learning to live fully and in joy in the wait of a prayer sent out is life changing. Often, God commissions us to an action–and I immediately feel like, “Oh, I should have known that. I’m behind. . . God had to tell me. . .” when really it’s just the beginning of the journey–and there’s a lot of waiting as He unfolds that journey and all it contains. I think your post contains one of the most important messages our national culture needs to hear right now (I didn’t say generation–but if I did I would mean all the generations).