Act or Wait? Discerning God’s Timing

Have you ever found yourself at a crossroads, wondering, “Is it time to step forward and take action? Or should I wait and trust that God will move?” It’s a common dilemma for anyone trying to walk by faith—and the answer isn’t always clear. Scripture reveals a beautiful balance between movement and stillness. Sometimes, faith demands a bold step forward. Other times, it calls for a patient heart that waits with expectation. Both require trust. Both require action—just in different forms.

Faith That Moves: Taking Action

Let’s start with the story of a woman who dared to act in faith—found in Mark 5:25–34. She had battled a debilitating illness for twelve long years. Doctors had failed her, and her resources were gone. Then she heard about Jesus. She didn’t just hope Jesus could help—she believed it. And belief compelled her to act. She pushed through the crowd to touch His garment. Instantly, she was healed.

Jesus didn’t say, “My power has healed you.” He said, “Daughter, your faith has made you well.” Her faith was the reflection of her belief in Jesus and His willingness to heal. And her faith was the bridge between her belief and her answer. James 2:17 reminds us, “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” Real faith isn’t silent or stationary—it steps out, even in desperation, trusting that God is who He says He is.

Faith to Wait: Standing in Trust & Expectation

But there are times when God says, “Be still.” And stillness isn’t inactivity—it’s spiritual endurance. Isaiah 40:31 paints this truth beautifully: “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength…” Waiting on God means trusting in His timing, standing on His promises, and continuing to obey even when you can’t yet see the result. Waiting is a spiritual warfare. It is a battle to refuse surrendering our belief, but to stand in faith. “…and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:13).

Think of the disciples after Jesus’ resurrection. He told them to wait for the Holy Spirit. They didn’t kill time—they prayed, worshipped, and prepared their hearts for what was coming. Waiting was active. It was expectant. Paul echoes this in Ephesians 6, where he instructs believers to “put on the full armor of God” and, after having done everything, stand. Not retreat. Not panic. Stand firm, rooted in faith, until the answer comes.

Living in the Balance

So what does this mean for you and me?

1. God initiated the first move—He gave us Jesus, His Word, and His Spirit.
2. We respond in faith to what we believe—sometimes by stepping forward, sometimes by standing our ground.
3. We remain faithful—actively listening, praying, resisting fear and doubt, and declaring God’s promises until the breakthrough comes. That is the action of faith.

Waiting is not a passive hope—it’s a spiritual position. It’s the posture of someone who has done all and now trusts completely. It’s holding the firehose, full of power, and staying ready to release it when the time is right.

Let me encourage you: If you’ve felt stuck, maybe the answer isn’t do more or give up, but rather align with God’s way. He never fails. He never lies. He never leaves a promise unfulfilled. Whether He leads you to move or stay, He is faithful in both.

He sees you. He knows your heart. And He is working—right now—on your behalf. Stay faithful. Stay expectant. You’re not waiting alone.

With God, nothing is impossible!

God bless you,
Dale Black