Before leaving Abu Dhabi, I met with a friend to catch up on her life and ministry in the Middle East. She is a missionary, speaks fluent Arabic and shares the good news of Jesus Christ with women in the Arab world. Her life and faith are an encouragement to many. She is faithfully serving the Lord and taking the gospel to the hard places.

As our conversation unfolded, I could see that something was weighing heavy on her heart. She felt like she was reaching the end of her rope. She had waited for the Lord to answer a particular prayer about her future and cried out to him countless times for things to change. Life was not turning out like she had hoped, and it seemed as if God wasn’t there or simply didn’t care. It felt like God was distant and disengaged when it came to the hopes and dreams of her life.

Have you been there? Have you looked at what is (or isn’t) happening in your life and felt like you are reaching the end of your rope? You have waited, prayed, but nothing changes.

Waiting is a part of everyone’s story. Men and women in the Bible endured significant times of waiting. Abraham and Sarah waited to hold in their arms the child God had promised. Joseph waited in prison after being unjustly accused by Potiphar’s wife. The Israelites waited for their slavery to end. Habakkuk waited for God to intervene in the chaos of his time. The disciples of Jesus waited for hope to return when he died on the cross and was buried in the tomb.

Author Mark Vroegop writes in his book Waiting Isn’t a Waste that “Waiting isn’t a supplemental experience of the Christian life. It’s central. Following Jesus involves a life of waiting.” So where do we anchor our hearts while we wait? How do we wait well and not lose hope? We hold onto what we know to be true of God. We remember the promises of an unchanging God and anchor our hearts in his Word. We trust his character and ways, even when what is happening in our lives may not make sense.

If you find waiting to be hard, I want to encourage you to consider these three truths about God.

God is near and has not abandoned or forgotten you. “I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.” Psalm 73.23-24

God is still sovereign. There is nothing that can prevent him from fulfilling his plans and purposes for your life. “My times are in your hand.” Psalm 31.15

God is still steadfast in his love for you. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.” Lamentations 3.22

As John Piper says, “God is always doing 10,000 things in your life, and you may be aware of three of them.” Anchor your heart on the promises of a sovereign, loving God who is always near. Will you trust him while you wait?