What If You’re Not Waiting for God… and He’s Waiting for You?

Many of us have said, “I’m waiting on God.” Waiting for clarity, peace, or direction. In these times, God can feel distant, but what if the distance we feel isn’t because God is silent or far away? What if He’s been present all along, patiently waiting for us to lean in?

You’re as Close to God as You Want to Be

Have you ever considered that you’re as close to God as you want to be? This thought can feel both comforting and uncomfortable. It comforts us because God isn’t hiding or unreachable. It’s uncomfortable because it asks us to be honest about where we are in our walk with Him.

In James 4.8 it reminds us to, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”
Did you notice who makes the first move? God’s posture toward us is open, and  He’s waiting for our response to draw near to Him.

Waiting for Direction from God

I recall a time in my life when I was waiting for direction from God. Waiting can feel like a waste or unproductive, but spiritually, it’s rarely about time. It’s about where our attention is focused. During waiting, distractions creep in. Life gets busy, and at times disappointments can set in, dulling our God expectations. Slowly, our connection with God can turn into distance, not because God stepped back but because we stopped focusing on Him, and now our circumstances have become our new focus.

During moments like this, it’s crucial to recall Psalm 145.18,

“The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.”

I would encourage you to write this down on a Post-it note.

God isn’t distant. He’s near. Keep calling on Him, thank Him for what He’s done, and tell Him what you need.

Don’t just pray that He’ll break through the noise. Here’s why…

During that time, I learned something important about waiting. I prayed consistently for clarity on what God wanted me to do. The waiting was challenging, and since I hadn’t gotten an answer, I thought I’d messed up and God turned away. But here’s what I learned as I waited.

Waiting for God may be the most productive thing we can do. Imagine waiting for a friend to pick you up to go somewhere you’re excited to visit. While waiting, you’re watching and anticipating. If you hadn’t shown up, you’d miss your ride and the experience ahead. It’s the same with waiting for God. When we wait, we watch, anticipate, and are ready to go. When God showed up in my moment, I learned I didn’t really need clarity. I needed trust. I was waiting for a “yes, that’s the next step” from God, but He wanted me to trust that He would tell me “not to go down that path.” Sometimes stepping out in faith without clarity helps us grow in trusting God. He wanted me to trust Him as much as I trust a chair in a place I’ve never been. I don’t inspect the chair before I sit; I simply sit, expecting it to hold me. That’s the trust God wanted to give me. That revelation doesn’t come without waiting.

We often approach God wanting answers, solutions, and relief, but God is more invested in a relationship with us. Sometimes the waiting we experience isn’t God delaying an answer; it’s God inviting us deeper. The silence may be an open door to intimacy with God. He may be saying, “Come sit with Me,” long before He says, “Here’s the answer.”

How To Closer to God?

Getting closer to God starts with choosing connection.

3 Ways to Draw Near to God Today

• Pause for a few quiet minutes and talk to God honestly, even if your prayer feels unfinished.
• Open Scripture and ask God to reveal more of Himself, rather than rushing for answers. When you get to know Him more, that’s where the real answer lies. Sometimes they look different than what we anticipated.
• Take one small step of obedience in an area you’ve been resisting and trust God with the rest. God honors movement toward Him, no matter how small it feels.

A Moment to Reflect

What if today isn’t about waiting for God to show up, but choosing to show up yourself? God isn’t far. He isn’t disinterested. He isn’t late. He’s near. He’s patient, and He’s waiting — not with frustration, but with love.

Closeness with God grows through daily connection, not perfect circumstances or perfect people.

If you’re walking through a season when joy feels distant, you may also find encouragement in our post on finding joy in hard seasons, which explores how God’s presence anchors us even when life feels uncertain.