5 Verses to Pray When You are Sick and Tired of Waiting
Waiting is my favorite … said no one ever!
Entire industries have been developed because we want what they want and we don’t want to wait for it!
We hate waiting in lines. Traffic jams make our heads spin around. We pull our phones out to pass the time in waiting rooms and still we grow more impatient with each passing moment.
So, I guess we shouldn’t be surprised that we really struggle when God’s answer to one of our prayers is … “not now.” Especially because He doesn’t tell us when. He simply says, “wait.”
And waiting is hard. I know … we’ve had some experience with waiting.
Let me give you a few personal examples…
Rev and I experienced seven years of secondary infertility. Years of temperature charts and hormonal roller coasters.
We waited almost a year for a diagnosis when Rev was ill and that was just the beginning of many more months of waiting on treatment, surgery, and praise God … healing.
Then my mom took a terrible fall and broke her neck, wrist, and hip. We waited for weeks as she seemed to be recovering … only to have her fall again and die from her injuries.
Six weeks after my mom died, our first grandchild was born at 24 weeks, weighing just a little over a pound and a half. And we waited and waited as he spent time in hospitals and doctor’s offices. Praise God … he is a happy and healthy 11-year-old today!
Friend, I get it! Waiting is hard!
And one of the hardest parts of waiting on God is although He knows the outcome … you and I do not.
Maybe you’re waiting because of a health issue, a relationship struggle, or a financial problem. Maybe you need a door to open professionally. Maybe you’re waiting on a loved one to surrender their heart to Jesus.
Whatever you’re waiting for … God’s Word tells us to bring our prayers to the Lord as we wait with hope. So, today we will pray..
5 Verses to Pray When You are Sick and Tired of Waiting
Psalm 27:7–8
Hear me as I pray, O Lord. Be merciful and answer me! My heart has heard You say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”
Father, I feel like I’ve prayed for this a hundred times or more. My heart cries out. Sometimes I feel like a pestering child pleading again and again … asking You to give me the answer my heart desires. And yet, as many times as I come to You, You never turn me away.
You say, “Come and talk with me.” So, here I am once again. Please strengthen me while I wait and help me trust Your will for me. Fill me with Your Spirit and give me Your peace. I can’t do this on my own. But I believe Your promise that I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13) Amen.
Isaiah 55:8–9
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
Father, forgive me. I really am shortsighted. I only see my immediate needs. It’s hard to imagine the “what-ifs” of the future. But You know them all. You see the end from the beginning. And not just the big picture, You are personally involved in the details of my life.
Help me trust You! Help me know that if You ask me to wait … there is a good reason. Help me rest knowing that whatever You allow, even this season of waiting, is filtered through Your love. Hold me close, Father, and bless me with Your perfect peace. Amen.
Romans 8:24–28
(If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.) And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Father, waiting patiently and confidently is hard … especially when the enemy taunts me with doubts and fears. Please place a hedge of protection around my heart and mind. Give me Your promises to defeat the enemy’s lies in my life.
Thank you, for this word of promise that even when I’m discouraged and exhausted from waiting, Your Spirit continues to pray for me in line with what You know is best for me. And then … You graciously and lovingly work it all out for good.
I’ll admit, sometimes Your answers don’t seem “good” at the moment but with Your help, I will trust that You know what is best for my eternal good even when I don’t understand right now. I surrender this need to Your love and care. Amen.
Psalm 40:1–3
I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.
Father, I want to wait patiently for Your help. But honestly, I’m not very good at it. I can be whiney and pouty. Sometimes I sound like those complaining wilderness wanderers. But You never stop loving me. You hear my cries from the pits I dig for myself and You reach down when I’m sinking in self-pity … gently offering me Your outstretched hand.
By Your grace, help me to look up. Make me aware of all You are faithfully doing on my behalf. And help me to trust You to lift me up and lead me. You not only know what lies ahead for me; You promise to go with me. Thank you, Lord. Amen.
Psalm 33:20–22 (NCV)
So our hope is in the Lord. He is our help, our shield to protect us. We rejoice in Him because we trust His holy name. Lord, show Your love to us as we put our hope in You.
Father, whatever
I trust You to give me everything I need to wait today and I will trust You to give me everything I need again tomorrow.
Yes, I will continue to ask. I will seek and I will knock on the throne room door. I will come to You in faith trusting that You always keep Your promises. Fill me with Your Spirit that I might experience “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” today. By Your grace and for Your glory … in Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Yes, waiting is hard.
But you and I don’t wait alone. By God’s grace, we have the Holy Spirit who is holding us up before the throne of grace. Jesus called Him, the Advocate … the Spirit of truth (John 15:26) He is with us and in us giving us what we need while we wait.
If you’re tired of waiting for something today … I would love to join you in prayer. Please leave your prayer request in the comments or on the Blessing Counters Pray Page.
Waiting is very difficult at times Deb but we do have Jesus & God’s perfect timing in all things, great post!
Blessings,
Jennifer
I was just reading Romans 8 today in my daily reading and I took a long pause when I came to how when we don’t know what to pray the Holy Spirit knows and continues. Then I’m reading this post and your phrase was also a comfort “that even the season of waiting is filtered through His love.” These prayers really were encouragement Deb. Thank you 🙂
Deb – I have had to do my share of waiting. At first, I was awful at it and still have my moments, but in some ways, I have come to enjoy it. I love being able to be still. I don’t seem to plan a lot of that into my schedule.
Love the verses! You always post the best ones.
This is the second post I’ve read today about waiting–s’pose God is trying to teach me something specific?
Thanks for all the ways you bless and encourage.
As always, your words spoke to my heart today, Deb. Yes, waiting is hard and difficult, but God will be there with us when we pray for His guidance and grace to give us patience until the answer comes.
Blessings!
Deb,
This is a beautiful, beautiful… powerful post! I’ve been in a season of waiting… a pulling back and now I feel God has me in preparation to cross over phase. Waiting is so hard, but if we learn to wait in hope, God will be able to propel us further in the future!
THANKS FOR THIS UBER ENCOURAGING POST!
~Sherry
xoxo
Awww… thanks for featuring us this week Deb! 🙂
This hit me right where I am today, Deb. I know and believe all of the truths you shared. And yet, I am SO tired of waiting, for several different things. Thank you for putting into words what I am feeling, and for offering the hope of God’s sovereignty and faithfulness.
Thanks so much for the feature, Deb! I’ve been in a waiting period for 18 months, and these scriptures are so valuable to stay grounded in the truth that this it will end, and it’s okay to expect God has something good on the other side.
You have such great truth here, but I have to say my sister was a 24 week-er! She’s 13 now. It is amazing how small they are at that age, isn’t it??? So much grace in all the waiting!
Great truths and encouragement! I find that even though I am “more” patient, I still have a long way to go, I always need more patience. Yet God is so good and uses everything to help me grow and for His glory. I never get tired of seeing how He has worked in a through every situation. Many Thanks 8)
Deb, I love your opening line: “Waiting is my favorite … said no one ever! ” No one has ever accused me of being a patient person. As I read of your trials I felt empathy and compassion for you. God does not promise us a smooth ride in this life, but He does promise us to be there with us always. Your hard-earned patience is a testament to your strength through Him
God has taught me the art of waiting . I waited for a decade to be a mom , then my kids were born at 26 weeks and I waited again .
Love these prayers in the period of waiting . Although we do not know the outcome, God does.
We can rest knowing that He knows it well
Love you
Sigh. So hard. Thank you for these. laurensparks.net
I’m in bondage to food fixation, overeating, and binge-eating and yo-yo dieting which started in the 70s. I must have lost the same 50 lb at least a dozen times or more in the past 40 years. It can be overwhelming and tiring so tiring fighting this battle. I was a smoker for 30 years and I thought quitting that was hard but the food thing much more difficult. I keep praying God Release Me free me. And it hasn’t happened yet it’s been so long I’m tired and weary.
I’m so sorry, Jolynn! That is a tough battle for so many! Rev and I say often that everyone has “food issues.” They may show up in different ways but managing those issues is challenging. I’m praying and asking God to cover you with His grace and help you win this battle! God bless you!
Hello Sister Deb, first thank you so much for the 5 verses to pray when your sick and tired out waiting. I need about my neighbor they’re not good neighbors. I have adapted and change so that I can have peace in this matter and yes inspite of everything I still remember God’s word to love thy neighbor. However the situation hasn’t gotten better. I prayed and prayed about this matter, please pray with me that this matter will work out for my good. In Jesus name I pray.
Amen
Thank you for the verses.. for its very hard to wait.. sometimes waiting is very painful and you just want to give up.. I’ve been waiting for my marriage to grow.. for my husband and I to heal and manifest the marriage intended by God.. my husband is out of our home and that hurts so much.. I’m praying for our togetherness but it’s so hard and I feel like giving up.. but seconds later I feel the nudge to pray and don’t lose hope however I feel drained.. I’m not even sure if I’m doing the right thing.. I’ve given up on other things however I can’t seem to give up on my marriage.. ladies if you find it in your heat to pray for my marriage please do.. this journey isn’t easy and it’s getting so hard to wait.. thank you
Nydia, I am so sorry you are going through this painful time. I have a relationship I’ve been praying over for years. His love gives me hope and I will continue to pray even as the wait is long. Praying for you as well! God bless you!
Thank you much for the encouraging verses when one is sick and tired of waiting. It been a long time without a job and a mother of two girls. Am a widow and believing God for an incoming , got rent arrears , my daughter is out of school coz of the school fees balance. Am almost eight years without anything constant to do whatever I try it does not work. Have prayed l do know what to do am overwhelmed by bills and debts am sick and tired. Please pray for me am Jane from Kenya.
I am so sorry you are going through this difficult time, Jane. I am asking God to point you to the job He is preparing for you and asking Him to end this season of waiting. God bless you!