Waiting on God’s Plan: How Surrender Leads to Peace and Real Freedom
How many of you know what it’s like to want something so much, you feel like you have to make it happen on your own timeline? Let me tell you, waiting on God’s plan is not something that comes naturally for me. I like to think I’m in control, that I can will the outcome I’m praying for into existence. But God hasn’t called us to force things. He’s called us to trust God through waiting, even when everything inside says to push ahead with our own plans.
In our latest podcast episode, I had the chance to talk with Andy, a woman whose story reminded me finding faith after loss and surrender matters. We talked about heartbreak, messy prayers, and what it’s like to find yourself flat out on your closet floor, wondering if you’ll ever stand up again, finding hope after loss. Today, I want to share some of those lessons and invite you to look at waiting on God’s plan a little differently, finding hope after loss.
Why Do We Try to Will Things Into Existence?
Let’s be honest. So many of us think if we work harder, think smarter, or believe enough, we can change the story ourselves. I used to walk in that mindset, convincing myself I could pray hard, act fast, and sort out the details for God. But how often has that left us exhausted, anxious, or just plain disappointed, trusting God during illness?
I’ve noticed in my own life the times waiting on God’s plan felt impossible were the seasons when I was the most determined to ‘fix it’ in my strength, grace and faith carry us through hard times. Can I tell you something? That need to control comes from a place of fear, not faith, finding blessings in hard times. We fear missing out, being left behind, or seeing a dream die, so we grip tighter, trusting God with family decisions. But here’s the thing - the more I tried to force what I wanted, the messier things seemed to get, finding purpose in suffering. God knows our hearts. He meets us right there, but He doesn’t want us carrying burdens we were never meant to hold.
What Happens When We Refuse to Wait?
When I look back, every time I ran ahead, I missed out on the peace when God feels silent that comes by waiting on God’s plan. Maybe you’ve been there too - making decisions quickly, ignoring the quiet voice asking you to pause. I see now, I was grabbing at what seemed urgent, instead of trusting God’s timing was always better than mine. Andy’s story echoed this same struggle, reminding me that God’s best won’t come from our frantic effort, but from open-handed trust.
How Do We Start Waiting on God’s Plan?
Waiting is one of the hardest things we’re asked to do, but it’s also where deepening relationship with God is formed. In the podcast, Andy shared about pleading with God to save her marriage. She was asking for a specific outcome, but deep down, she knew she was willing things ahead of what God wanted for her. I’ve been there. Maybe you have too. So how do we stop forcing and start trusting?
- First, get honest. Are you inviting God into every part of the story, or just the parts you can’t control?
- Next, make space for stillness. I know, it feels unnatural. But slowing down long enough to pray, to listen, to read Scripture - it matters.
- Ask God for His will, not just His rescue in the moment.
- Let go of the outcome. Surrender isn’t giving up, it’s handing over the weight you weren’t created to carry.
Something my guest said has stuck with me. She talked about how, in the middle of her pain, survival just meant making it through the night. I could relate. There were seasons I thought I was just getting by, but now I know God was carrying me, even when I didn’t feel Him near. It’s in those small, unseen moments, waiting on God’s plan, that He does His best work.
Scripture for Those Struggling to Wait
This verse meets me right where I’m at: “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart be courageous. Wait for the Lord.” (Psalm 27:14, CSB). What if the courage isn’t in pushing through, but in waiting well? Every time I slow down and let that verse sink in, something in me exhales.
How Trusting God’s Timing Brings Real Freedom
It seems upside down, doesn’t it? We’re told in the world to hustle, to get it done, to make things happen. But God’s way is different. Freedom doesn’t come from gritting our teeth and making it through. It comes when we step back and say, “God, I trust You with this.”
Andy noticed it too. When she stopped fighting, when she released her grip, that’s when the peace returned. She talked about being the strong one who always has it together (hand to heart, anyone else feel that?). But when she let herself be vulnerable with God, something shifted. I’ve felt that shift too, in my own closet, my car, those quiet places where no one else sees the tears or the questions.
What Does Surrender Look Like in Our Everyday?
To me, surrender looks like showing up, even when there are no easy answers. It looks like letting God meet you in your mess - not after you clean it up. And yes, sometimes it means coming to Him with nothing but His name. Jesus. That’s enough.
- Choosing prayer over panic
- Listening before leaping into action
- Leaving the outcome in God’s hands
- Trusting that what feels like delay is often God’s protection or preparation
I see it all the time. It might hurt to wait, but it hurts more to live outside the peace of waiting on God’s plan.
Practical Ways to Cultivate Patience and Surrender
Start Small and Keep it Simple
I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve forgotten that small steps still count. Picking up my Bible for five minutes, praying the same simple prayer, writing down the things I’m holding too tightly - these are all ways I learn to wait instead of will.
Invite God Into Every Step
I keep a sticky note that says, “God, what do You have for me today?” That little reminder has changed my mindset. Try asking that before big decisions or small ones. It’s a way of practicing waiting on God’s plan instead of running ahead with your own.
Look for Blessings in the Waiting
I used to think everything good happened once I got to the other side, but looking back, I see most of God’s best work happened when I felt stuck. The unexpected phone call, the peace that didn’t make sense, even the ability to just get up and do the next thing - that’s where God showed up for me.
Waiting on God’s Plan Builds Our Community and Our Faith
This isn’t just about us. When we choose to wait on God’s plan, we’re building something for those around us - our kids, our friends, our community. We show them a different way to live. We show them faith is more than words; it’s how we choose to let go when everything in us wants to grasp tight.
I want our community to be known as people who wait well. People who don’t rush God’s timing, people who trust His faithfulness over our quick fixes. It’s my hope that our collective patience, our collective surrender, tells a better story than the world’s version of instant everything. Our waiting isn’t wasted, friend. It’s part of how God makes us more like Him, together.
Action Steps You Can Try This Week
- Set aside five minutes a day just to be quiet and listen for God.
- Pray “God, have Your way” before acting on a big decision.
- Share your waiting moment with a trusted friend or in our online community.
- Write down what you are waiting for and hand it to God, literally or in prayer.
If you want a reminder that you’re not alone, check out our podcast library. The episode with Andy is a great place to start, especially if you’re learning to trust God in the hard places. You can also read more stories of faith and surrender in our recent blog on how to find peace when life feels uncertain or listen to Trusting God Through Transitions.
Final Encouragement for Those Waiting on God’s Plan
If you’re like me, waiting on God’s plan can feel uncomfortable and sometimes lonely. But it’s never wasted. Every time I’ve chosen to step back, pray, read, and trust, I’ve seen God move in ways I’d never imagine.
We may not see all the reasons in the moment, but I know now, there’s so much freedom in surrender. If you’re in that season, breathe. Slow down. God is not done. His timing will always be worth the wait. Invite Him into the waiting, and trust that He’s holding the pieces you cannot see yet.
Want to hear more encouragement? Listen to the full podcast episode, “Held in the Breaking: A Faith Story of Surrender and Survival.” Let’s keep encouraging each other to wait well, trust fully, and believe that His plans are always good.
