Once while driving to the office on one brisk fall morning, I shot the sun visor down to block the offensive autumn sunrise from aiming straight for my line of vision. On any other day, I might have delighted in an early November sunrise, but not that day. I felt downright distressed and was nursing a nauseating case of decision paralysis. 

My mind and spirit had been wrapped up in a tantalizing game of catch for the past few months, tossing around a certain life change for which I had been earnestly seeking an answer from the Lord. On this early November morning, I sat in numbing silence, feeling as if all of my prayers weren’t reaching much further than the roof of my car. 

As I reflected on months of prayer now behind me, I wondered if the next move was in my own hands. Should I just use my best judgment and trust it will all work out in the end, according to His will? But what exactly is His will in this? I distinctly remember the longed-for moment when the voice of the Lord reached my ears at last as He said, “I dare you to trust me.” 

What the Lord revealed to me echoed back to the Israelites’ experience in Exodus 40. As they travel towards the long-awaited Promised Land, they too find themselves in a season of waiting on the Lord before their next step is taken. Exodus 40:36-38, “In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels” (NIV). 

Following God in this wilderness season, the Israelites waited on the movement of God to lead them, often long beyond their own timetables and definitely beyond their comfort levels. The waiting season isn’t an easy place to be, but what we can be sure of is that there is always a greater purpose to the pain we walk through.  Wait for the Lord to move and all His presence to guide you faithfully.

Dig Deeper

If you find yourself in a season of waiting, try placing your hands on your lap with your palms facing up. Envision yourself holding a prayer in your hands, and then release it fully to the Lord. Hold nothing back for yourself. Give this over to Him and trust His timing. 

Prayer

Lord, I trust that you direct my paths, and your plans can be trusted. Give me a patient spirit. Help me not to jump to my own conclusions, but to wait on you. I will wait for your voice and will follow it with full faith. 

Daily Readings

This article was originally published “A Will, A Way” in the March 2025 issue of Peer Magazine.