This is part 2 of 6 in the Walking in STRIDE series.

Waiting on God is agonizing.

When prayers seem to bounce off the ceiling, circumstances look bleak, and the silence from heaven is deafening, doubt creeps in fast from every direction. You begin to wonder if God even hears you or when He will hear you, let alone if He actually has a plan for your situation.

But here is the hard truth: trust isn’t really tested when everything is going according to your schedule. Trust is built in the dark.

The Perfect Track Record

We often measure God’s faithfulness by our current timeline. If the breakthrough doesn’t happen by our self-imposed deadline, we assume He has forgotten us.

Scripture offers a completely different perspective on mental stability during a long wait:

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” (Is 26:3)

Notice that perfect peace isn’t promised to those who have all the answers; it is promised to those whose minds remain steadfast. God’s timing does not always align with our impatience, but His track record is historically flawless. Trusting Him doesn’t mean you pretend the pain of waiting isn’t real. It means you choose to believe He is actively working behind the scenes, even when you cannot see a single shred of evidence. (Read Heb 11:1)

Shifting Your Gaze

When you fix your eyes entirely on your problems, your anxiety scales up. When you lift your gaze to His sovereignty, the problem finds its proper perspective.

You cannot trust a person you do not know, and you cannot trust a track record you constantly forget. To survive the waiting rooms of life, you have to actively remind yourself of what God has already done.

Let’s build your focus muscle right now with a practical, two-minute exercise.

1. Recall a past breakthrough: 1 minute.

Think back to a specific moment in your past where you were backed into a corner, but God came through for you at the eleventh hour. It could be an unexpected financial provision, a resolved conflict, or a sudden open door.

2. Log it on your phone: 1 minute.

Open the notes app on your smartphone right now. Write down two sentences describing that specific moment of past faithfulness. Better yet, share it with someone to encourage them.

Keep that digital note pinned or easily accessible. The next time the waiting feels too heavy and doubt tells you that God has abandoned you, open that note. Let your own history with God silence your current anxiety.

I invite you to say this prayer. May it help to align your heart today.
“Father, forgive me for my doubt. When my eyes are fixed solely on my problems, help me to lift my gaze to Your sovereignty. Remind me of Your past faithfulness today as I wait for Your future provision. Amen.”