Chiamaka NwekeBible Verse: Lamentations 3:25–26
Focus: Learning that true strength is often found in patient, silent trust in God’s deliverance.
There is a quiet revolution that begins when a soul learns to wait. In a world that celebrates speed, noise, and constant activity, the discipline of waiting can seem counterintuitive. We are taught to take action, to seize opportunities, and to make things happen. Waiting, by contrast, can feel like a waste of time, a passive surrender to circumstances beyond our control.
Yet, the Scriptures reveal a different reality. The prophet Jeremiah, writing from the ashes of Jerusalem’s destruction, declares a truth that has sustained countless believers through the darkest nights: “The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord” (Lamentations 3:25-26). These words are not born of comfortable circumstances but of profound suffering. They are the testimony of a man who had lost everything, yet discovered that the deepest strength is often found in the quietest waiting.
This article explores the strength found in waiting quietly on the Lord. We will examine the meaning of this biblical waiting, understand why it is so difficult, explore the nature of the strength it produces, and discover practical steps to cultivate this essential spiritual discipline.
The Context: Hope in the Ruins
The book of Lamentations was written in the aftermath of one of the most devastating events in Israel’s history: the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonian Empire in 586 B.C. The city that had been the center of Israel’s worship, the seat of David’s throne, and the symbol of God’s presence lay in ruins. The Temple had been burned to the ground. The people had been slaughtered or carried into exile.
Jeremiah, traditionally attributed as the author, was an eyewitness to this horror. In the first 20 verses of chapter 3, he pours out his anguish. He describes himself as one who has been “the man who has seen affliction” (Lamentations 3:1). He feels besieged, trapped in darkness, and forgotten by God. His hope seems to have perished: “So I say, ‘My strength has perished, along with my hope from the LORD'” (Lamentations 3:18).
But then, in verse 21, there is a dramatic turn: “Yet this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope.” The word “yet” marks a pivot from despair to hope. What did Jeremiah call to mind? He remembered the character of God: His steadfast love, His unfailing compassion, and His great faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23). This act of remembrance was the key that unlocked hope.
Then, in verses 25 and 26, Jeremiah shifts from his personal testimony to a more general teaching. He declares that “the Lord is good to those who wait for him” and that “it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” These verses are not the product of a comfortable life; they are forged in the crucible of suffering. They are a declaration that even in the ruins, God is good, and waiting on Him is the path to strength .
The Meaning of Waiting: An Active, Not Passive, Posture
To understand the strength found in waiting, we must first understand what biblical waiting truly means. It is far more than a passive resignation to fate or a reluctant marking of time.
Waiting as “Binding Together”
The Hebrew word for “wait” in verse 25 is qavah, which carries the idea of “looking eagerly for,” “hoping steadfastly,” or “binding together by twisting.” Think of the imagery of binding or twisting. When a rope is bound together, it is made stronger by the intertwining of its fibers. Waiting on the Lord, in this sense, is the process of intertwining our lives with God—through prayer, Scripture, and obedience—so that we become stronger. It is an eager, hopeful expectation where we lean into God’s character and remain steadfast in our trust .
Waiting as Seeking
Jeremiah links waiting with seeking: “to the soul who seeks him” (Lamentations 3:25). Waiting is not a passive state; it is an active pursuit. It involves seeking God’s presence, His will, and His guidance. As one devotional notes, “Stop running and start waiting! ‘The Lord is good to those who wait for Him’ … Start seeking Him again. ‘The Lord is good to those who seek Him'” . To wait is to turn our attention away from our circumstances and toward the One who can help us.
Waiting as Silence and Patience
Verse 26 adds another dimension: “It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” The Hebrew phrase here is a hendiadys, where two words combine to form a single idea: “waiting and silently” means “to wait silently” or “to wait patiently” . This is not just silence from external noise but a deep, internal quietness of the soul. It is the ability to be still before God, to refrain from complaining, and to trust that He is at work.
Andrew Murray, the great devotional writer, captures this beautifully: “Take time to be separate from all friends and all duties, all cares and all joys; time to be still and quiet before God. Take time not only to secure stillness from man and the world, but from self and its energy” . This is the kind of waiting that produces strength.
The Strength Found in Silence
One of the most profound truths in Scripture is that strength is often found in quietness and trust. The prophet Isaiah declares, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength” (Isaiah 30:15). This is a counter-cultural message. The world tells us that strength is found in striving, in making noise, and in asserting ourselves. But God says that strength is found in stillness.
The Strength of Surrender
Waiting quietly on the Lord is an act of surrender. It is the acknowledgment that we are not in control, that we cannot fix our own problems, and that we need God to act on our behalf. As one devotional explains, “The quietness is the confession of our impotence, that with all our willing and running, with all our thinking and praying, it will not be done: we must receive it from God” . This surrender is not weakness; it is the recognition of our true dependence on the One who is all-powerful.
The Strength of Trust
Waiting quietly is also an act of trust. It is the conviction that God is good, that He hears our prayers, and that He will act in His time. The Lord is “good to those who wait for him” (Lamentations 3:25). His goodness is not always immediately visible, but it is always real. When we wait, we are trusting His character over our circumstances. “Trust in the Lord,” one source encourages, “lean on Him, and listen” . This trust is the bedrock of strength.
The Strength of Rest
Waiting brings rest to our souls. Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). When we are striving, we are exhausted. When we are waiting, we are resting in His finished work. As one sermon notes, “There are two kinds of Christians: flapping and soaring. Flapping Christians rely on effort, striving, and performance. Soaring Christians find rest in God’s Spirit and glide on His favor” . Quiet waiting positions us to soar.
Biblical Examples of Waiting on the Lord
The Bible is filled with individuals who discovered strength through waiting. Their lives serve as powerful examples for us.
Jeremiah: The Prophet Who Waited
Jeremiah is the primary example. He had witnessed the destruction of his nation, but he chose to wait on the Lord. His waiting was not passive; it was a deliberate act of faith. He “called to mind” God’s faithfulness, and this remembrance gave him hope. His waiting was expressed through seeking God, hoping for salvation, and sitting in quietness . His story demonstrates that waiting can sustain us through the worst trials.
David: The Shepherd King
David was anointed as king at a young age, but he waited many years before he ascended the throne. During that time, he was hunted by Saul and forced to live as a fugitive. Yet, he wrote, “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD” (Psalm 27:14). David learned that waiting was not wasted time; it was preparation. As one devotional observes, “During that waiting period, God was fine tuning David and preparing him to be king” . His waiting produced a heart after God’s own heart.
The Eagles: A Symbol of Waiting
Isaiah 40:31 declares, “They who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles.” Eagles are a powerful symbol of waiting. They do not flap frantically against the wind; they wait for the thermal currents to lift them. They use the storm to rise higher. As one sermon explains, “Storms are not always against us; often they create the very lift we need” . When we wait on the Lord, we are like eagles, waiting for the Holy Spirit’s lift, and when it comes, our strength is renewed.
Practical Steps to Wait Quietly on the Lord
Waiting quietly is not an instinctive response; it is a skill that must be cultivated. Here are some practical steps to develop this discipline.
1. Stop Running and Start Waiting
The first step is to stop running. We often try to escape our problems through distraction, activity, or self-reliance. But the path to strength is to stop and wait. As one devotional encourages, “If you want to trust Him to remember you, first, stop running and start waiting” . This is a conscious decision to pause, to be still, and to acknowledge that God is in control.
2. Pour Out Your Heart to God
Waiting does not mean suppressing our emotions. Jeremiah was brutally honest about his pain. We must bring our raw feelings to God. As one devotional encourages, “Just dump the full load of your guilt on Him. He can handle it” . Tell Him what you are struggling with, confess your sins, and express your fears. This honest communication is the foundation of waiting.
3. Stop Talking and Start Listening
After we have poured out our hearts, we must stop talking and listen. This is the “quiet waiting” that Jeremiah describes. As one devotional advises, “Stop talking and sit silently… That means you need to stop talking. After you’ve poured out your heart, deliberately be quiet” . This is the discipline of silence. It is the practice of being still before God and allowing Him to speak through His Word and His Spirit.
4. Seek Him in His Word
Waiting is not a vacuum; it is an active seeking. “Wait and seek are two sides of the same coin,” one source notes . To seek God is to turn to His Word, to read and meditate on His promises. The Word of God is the primary means by which He speaks to us. As we immerse ourselves in Scripture, we are reminded of His faithfulness, and our hope is renewed. As one devotional explains, “Saturate your mind with Scripture; truth fortifies freedom” and builds strength .
5. Practice the Discipline of “Sitting”
This is the practice of sitting alone and quietly before the Lord. This might involve a specific time of day, a quiet place, and a commitment to be still. Charles Swindoll recommends, “Spend a full day in quietness. Sundays are great days to do that. Set aside at least part of the afternoon to be completely quiet” . This is not a mystical practice; it is a practical way to train our hearts to be still before God.
6. Cultivate Expectant Hope
Waiting is not about staring at the ground in despair; it is about looking upward in hope. The Hebrew concept of waiting includes expectation. As one commentary explains, the word “wait” means “to wait with expectation,” or “to wait in hope” . We must believe that God will act. As one devotional encourages, “If you feel uncomfortable, or don’t have any peace, don’t move forward. Don’t second guess it. A wise friend once told me, if you have peace, that’s of God. No peace, that’s not of God” . This kind of hopeful waiting is a powerful testimony.
7. Remember God’s Past Faithfulness
One of the most powerful ways to wait is to remember. Jeremiah “called to mind” God’s faithfulness (Lamentations 3:21). We must do the same. When we are waiting, we should recall how God has helped us in the past. This act of remembrance fuels our faith for the present and gives us hope for the future. As one source notes, “Mark past moments when God’s timing proved perfect and rehearse them during current delays” . This practice transforms waiting from a burden into a blessing.
The Rewards of Waiting Quietly
The rewards of waiting quietly on the Lord are immense. They are not just future promises but present realities.
Renewed Strength
The primary reward is renewed strength. As Isaiah promises, “those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31). This is not just physical strength but spiritual, emotional, and mental strength. Waiting connects us to the source of all strength—God Himself. As one devotional explains, “Strength is foundational to living effectively and fulfilling destiny” . Waiting is the channel through which this strength flows.
Divine Deliverance
Jeremiah declares that it is good to “wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord” (Lamentations 3:26). This implies that waiting is a means by which we experience God’s deliverance. When we wait, we are not just passively hoping; we are actively trusting. And God honors that trust by delivering us. The “salvation” may be from a specific problem, from a spiritual trial, or ultimately, from the power of sin and death.
Deeper Intimacy with God
Waiting is not just about getting help; it is about knowing God. When we wait, we are spending time in His presence. We are seeking Him, listening to Him, and trusting Him. This draws us closer to Him. As one source notes, “Waiting on the Lord is not a wasted time; it is an investment in spiritual capacity and authority. It is in His Presence that our weakness is exchanged for His strength” . The reward is the intimacy itself.
A Powerful Witness
Our waiting is a witness to a watching world. When we are not frantic, when we are at peace, and when we trust God in the midst of difficulty, people notice. Our quiet waiting testifies to the reality of our faith. It demonstrates that our hope is not in our circumstances but in a faithful God.
The Strength of Stillness
The strength found in waiting quietly on the Lord is one of the most profound truths in Scripture. It is a strength that is not born of effort but of surrender, not of striving but of stillness, not of noise but of silence. It is the strength of an eagle that soars on the thermal currents, the strength of a soul that rests in the promises of God.
Jeremiah discovered this truth in the ruins of Jerusalem. David discovered it in the caves of Adullam. Countless believers down through the ages have discovered it in their own seasons of waiting. The promise is the same: “The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord” (Lamentations 3:25-26).
Today, you may be in a season of waiting. You may be waiting for a breakthrough, a healing, a provision, or an answer. You may be tempted to rush ahead, to take matters into your own hands, or to give up entirely. But God is inviting you to wait. He is inviting you to be still. He is inviting you to trust His goodness.
The path to strength is not the path of frantic activity but the path of quiet trust. So, take a moment. Be still. Pour out your heart. Listen. And wait. For the Lord is good to those who wait for Him. He will renew your strength, and you will mount up with wings like eagles.
Chiamaka Nweke