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Waiting Isn't a Waste: The Surprising Comfort of Trusting God in the Uncertainties of Life
Exploring 6 Characteristics of Waiting to Prompt Wisdom from God and Gain Invaluable Peace
Throughout our lives, we experience countless periods of waiting. Some moments are mere nuisances—others are daunting seasons filled with intense worry and doubt. We grow impatient by immovable traffic or crave an impending answer to a medical condition. Whatever our current circumstances, our innate response is to take action rather than stay still.
In Waiting Isn’t a Waste, author Mark Vroegop calls believers to resist the human urge for control and lean on Christ for comfort while we wait for the uncertainties of life to unfold. Vroegop explores what it means to wait on God through 6 important characteristics—waiting is hard, common, biblical, slow, commanded, and relational. This book not only teaches readers how to wait on God but inspires them to embrace waiting—for it prompts wisdom from God and brings invaluable peace to the present.
Written for Christians in Seasons of Those struggling with anxiety, discouragement, or weariness as they wait Explores 6 Characteristics of Waiting is hard, common, biblical, slow, commanded, and relational Written by Mark Author of Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy, which was named the ECPA 2020 Christian Book of the Year
Throughout our lives, we experience countless periods of waiting. Some moments are mere nuisances—others are daunting seasons filled with intense worry and doubt. We grow impatient by immovable traffic or crave an impending answer to a medical condition. Whatever our current circumstances, our innate response is to take action rather than stay still.
In Waiting Isn’t a Waste, author Mark Vroegop calls believers to resist the human urge for control and lean on Christ for comfort while we wait for the uncertainties of life to unfold. Vroegop explores what it means to wait on God through 6 important characteristics—waiting is hard, common, biblical, slow, commanded, and relational. This book not only teaches readers how to wait on God but inspires them to embrace waiting—for it prompts wisdom from God and brings invaluable peace to the present.
Written for Christians in Seasons of Those struggling with anxiety, discouragement, or weariness as they wait Explores 6 Characteristics of Waiting is hard, common, biblical, slow, commanded, and relational Written by Mark Author of Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy, which was named the ECPA 2020 Christian Book of the Year
153 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 4, 2024
418 people are currently reading
5038 people want to read
About the author
Mark Vroegop
9 books83 followersMark Vroegop (MDiv, Grand Rapids Theological Seminary) is the lead pastor of College Park Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is a conference speaker, a council member with the Gospel Coalition, a trustee of Cedarville University, and the author of Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy. Mark blogs at markvroegop.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 571 reviews
November 23, 2024
Loved this! Listened on audio. I’d like to read the hardcopy, and I’d underline most of the book probably.
To be a Christian is to wait - a good book for any Christian to read no matter season you’re in.
To be a Christian is to wait - a good book for any Christian to read no matter season you’re in.
June 8, 2025
Every Christian should read this book. It's rich with scripture, wisdom, and practical guidance for anyone in a time of waiting. The truth is, we’re all waiting for something—and ultimately, we’re living in a broken world waiting for Jesus to return. In the meantime, this book offers encouragement and a powerful shift in perspective, using scripture as a guide. I’m already planning to reread it and highlight even more the second time through!
October 15, 2024
This book was sweet & encouraging & nourishing to me. Everyone is waiting on something, why would we not want to focus on how to do that more faithfully? I felt peace from the reminders in Scripture to wait on the Lord, to not fear, & to trust in Him. There are countless stories & prayers of waiting in the Bible & God is faithful to them all. I plan to read this book many times. It truly did encourage me so much!
The chapters go through how to wait honestly, frequently, thoughtfully, patiently, intentionally, & collectively.
“Waiting isn’t doing nothing. It’s directing the heart toward who God is.”
“Embracing waiting confronts my desire for control.”
“Change your focus. Don’t live by what you don’t know about your life. Embrace this truth instead: “none who wait for you shall be put to shame” (Ps 25:3).”
“I waited and waited and waited for God” (Ps 40:1 MSG)
The chapters go through how to wait honestly, frequently, thoughtfully, patiently, intentionally, & collectively.
“Waiting isn’t doing nothing. It’s directing the heart toward who God is.”
“Embracing waiting confronts my desire for control.”
“Change your focus. Don’t live by what you don’t know about your life. Embrace this truth instead: “none who wait for you shall be put to shame” (Ps 25:3).”
“I waited and waited and waited for God” (Ps 40:1 MSG)
August 14, 2024
I feel like this book is relative at anytime and for anyone. It dives deep into the feelings we feel because of waiting, and how we can turn our thoughts and heart toward the Lord. How waiting is important for each of us, and that everyone goes through it. None of us go through it alone.
August 5, 2024
Y’all, I don’t even know where to start! 😯 There are not enough good things I can say about this book and how instrumental it is to helping the body grow in spiritual maturity.
Mark Vroegop brought the heat and Scriptural receipts as he made a case for developing a biblical theology of waiting. His aim was to help us see that “waiting on God is living on what we know to be true about God when we don’t know what’s true about our lives.” To do this, he shows us that we need to wait:
⏳ honestly
⏳ frequently
⏳ thoughtfully
⏳ patiently
⏳ intentionally, and
⏳ collectively
When we’re able to do this, our view of waiting shifts. We no longer see it as a waste and we, in turn, no longer waste it.
Wouldn’t it be nice to see waiting as more than a nuisance? To recognize that the Lord is using it as a means of spiritual transformation in our lives? If so, READ THIS BOOK!! It’s practical and biblical—and the reflection questions that close out each chapter are deep and helpful! 5 ⭐️’s easily!
Grateful to @crosswaybooks for providing me a copy to read in exchange for an honest review.
Mark Vroegop brought the heat and Scriptural receipts as he made a case for developing a biblical theology of waiting. His aim was to help us see that “waiting on God is living on what we know to be true about God when we don’t know what’s true about our lives.” To do this, he shows us that we need to wait:
⏳ honestly
⏳ frequently
⏳ thoughtfully
⏳ patiently
⏳ intentionally, and
⏳ collectively
When we’re able to do this, our view of waiting shifts. We no longer see it as a waste and we, in turn, no longer waste it.
Wouldn’t it be nice to see waiting as more than a nuisance? To recognize that the Lord is using it as a means of spiritual transformation in our lives? If so, READ THIS BOOK!! It’s practical and biblical—and the reflection questions that close out each chapter are deep and helpful! 5 ⭐️’s easily!
Grateful to @crosswaybooks for providing me a copy to read in exchange for an honest review.
April 12, 2025
I had low expectations going into this read, thought it would be fluffy, contentment based but I was wrong!
I saw a lot of my flesh called out as the author talks about reasons waiting is so difficult. “Disdain for waiting is connected to a desire for control” - ouch
Walks through what embracing waiting looks like biblically and how waiting is a necessary part of the life of faith. Waiting isn’t optional. Ultimately, believers wait for eternity and for the fulfillment of restoration.
Encouraging, convicting and practical!
I saw a lot of my flesh called out as the author talks about reasons waiting is so difficult. “Disdain for waiting is connected to a desire for control” - ouch
Walks through what embracing waiting looks like biblically and how waiting is a necessary part of the life of faith. Waiting isn’t optional. Ultimately, believers wait for eternity and for the fulfillment of restoration.
Encouraging, convicting and practical!
July 3, 2024
“Waiting on God is living on what I know to be true about God when I don’t know what’s true about my life.”
I hate waste. Wasted food, wasted money, wasted time, wasted opportunities, wasted words.
When I saw the title of this book I knew I needed to read it. So much of life is spent waiting in some form or another and I needed to be able to see how it wasn’t a waste.
I loved Vroegop’s book Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy, and this is almost an extension of that book. Although that book focuses on the idea of lamenting and how we struggle through our grief, the principles he directs us to in both books are similar.
He points us to the person of God. Who is God when we hurt? Who is God when we are waiting? The answer is the most important part of both journeys. We trust God in the pain because we know what is true about him. We trust God in the waiting because we know what is true about him.
We may not know what is true about our lives or what’s next, but what is true about God is unchanging, unlike our circumstances or our feelings. He is consistent, reliable, trustworthy, loving, just, and true.
I like how Vroegop divided this book. The chapters are titled in answer to the question ‘how do we wait on God’ because it’s not a matter of if or when. We’re in it now, so let’s not waste this time.
He exhorts us to wait:
- Honestly (waiting is hard)
- Frequently (waiting is common)
- Thoughtfully (waiting is biblical)
- Patiently (waiting is slow)
- Intentionally (waiting is commanded)
- Collectively (waiting is relational)
Waiting is always seen as a negative thing. In a world where convenience and speed is the order of the day, we do everything we can to avoid waiting. It’s shocking how incapable we are of waiting.
It was really convicting to think about shifting my mindset on waiting to view it from a biblical lens. To expect to wait. To understand that God factored that into the creation of the world on purpose.
“God designed waiting in the world and in redemption so that he’s central, not you or me. The frequency of waiting confronts our desire for control.”
If we stop acting surprised or frustrated when we are forced to wait and we start seeing it as an opportunity to express faith, for one our attitude changes, but two, what we do in that gap of life becomes a lot more active and productive.
Vroegop doesn’t sugarcoat waiting as if it’s all rainbows and butterflies. As he shares in his other book, he is no stranger to pain, grief, and really hard times of waiting. This isn’t a book that presents the power of positive thinking as the recipe to contentment and satisfaction.
He just takes something that the world has a constructed a perception and worldview around (waiting) and removes the blinders for us. He calls us back to God’s design for waiting.
“Waiting is the spiritual posture of endurance.”
He says that he’s not a fan of acronyms but because in those moments it’s hard to think or recall too deeply, he made an exception for this.
He uses FAST to help reorient his perspective and his mindset in the waiting:
Focus: The picture he gave here was of a sickly person coming outside to be warmed by the sun. I found this a really compelling image and one I can definitely relate to. To be in the light. To lift my face to the warm sun and feel it wash over me. It’s the picture of looking to God in our cold and dark waiting times. It’s letting him and who he is cover me and penetrate to my bones reminding me it’s going to be okay.
Adore: “worshipfully rehearse what you know to be true about God.” He offers a list of relevant Scriptures in the back of the book to meditate on. I think reflecting on really well-written lyrics of worship songs can do this as well. We may think ‘Oh I already know who God is’ but it’s something very different to read the words repeatedly, or out loud, or write them down, or to pray them that connects our knowledge to our hearts.
Seek- “it is active not fatalistic resignation.” I think this is an important distinction because if we believe in God’s sovereignty, it’s tempting to just say we’re going to wait it out because what’s the point, God’s going to do what he wants to do. But that’s not biblical waiting. I like how he says, “patient waiting is not fatalistic or pessimistic. It’s the hopeful commitment to seek God’s help creatively and faithfully while staying put.”
Trust- “embrace by faith the contentment and spiritual rest that come from knowing God can be trusted.” Waiting typically generates anger or anxiety because waiting takes away our control and the ability to be certain about what comes next. If we are trusting, we don’t have to be fearful or anxious. If we are seeing God for who he is and seeking to see him at work in our waiting, there won’t be room for anger or anxiety.
Throughout the book Vroegop walks through Psalm 40 and quotes extensively from Andrew Murray’s work to show us how a Christian is called to wait.
Waiting is an act of obedience. Waiting is abiding. Waiting connects us to hope. Waiting gives feet to our faith, even if those feet are called to be still instead of run around in circles. Waiting isn’t about what is happening to us, but what could happen in us.
Not only as a human being who has to wait way more than I would like to, but also as a mother of four children who think 30 seconds is an eternity, this book gave me a lot to think about. My kids hate waiting and they will basically never not have to wait so why not stretch their waiting ‘muscle’ now. To teach kids this from an early age would be hugely beneficial in the long run because their expectations will already be adjusted.
The things we wait for as adults are heavier than the snack or screen time waits of children, but the principle doesn’t change.
I think this book is highly relevant and a great read for anyone.
As I’ve said, I hate wasted time, and I can promise you that reading this book is not a waste of yours.
“… they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” — Isaiah 40:30
“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” — Psalm 27:13-14
**Received a copy of this book from Crossway Books in exchange for an honest review.**
Book Review Blog | Facebook | Pinterest | StoryGraph
I hate waste. Wasted food, wasted money, wasted time, wasted opportunities, wasted words.
When I saw the title of this book I knew I needed to read it. So much of life is spent waiting in some form or another and I needed to be able to see how it wasn’t a waste.
I loved Vroegop’s book Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy, and this is almost an extension of that book. Although that book focuses on the idea of lamenting and how we struggle through our grief, the principles he directs us to in both books are similar.
He points us to the person of God. Who is God when we hurt? Who is God when we are waiting? The answer is the most important part of both journeys. We trust God in the pain because we know what is true about him. We trust God in the waiting because we know what is true about him.
We may not know what is true about our lives or what’s next, but what is true about God is unchanging, unlike our circumstances or our feelings. He is consistent, reliable, trustworthy, loving, just, and true.
I like how Vroegop divided this book. The chapters are titled in answer to the question ‘how do we wait on God’ because it’s not a matter of if or when. We’re in it now, so let’s not waste this time.
He exhorts us to wait:
- Honestly (waiting is hard)
- Frequently (waiting is common)
- Thoughtfully (waiting is biblical)
- Patiently (waiting is slow)
- Intentionally (waiting is commanded)
- Collectively (waiting is relational)
Waiting is always seen as a negative thing. In a world where convenience and speed is the order of the day, we do everything we can to avoid waiting. It’s shocking how incapable we are of waiting.
It was really convicting to think about shifting my mindset on waiting to view it from a biblical lens. To expect to wait. To understand that God factored that into the creation of the world on purpose.
“God designed waiting in the world and in redemption so that he’s central, not you or me. The frequency of waiting confronts our desire for control.”
If we stop acting surprised or frustrated when we are forced to wait and we start seeing it as an opportunity to express faith, for one our attitude changes, but two, what we do in that gap of life becomes a lot more active and productive.
Vroegop doesn’t sugarcoat waiting as if it’s all rainbows and butterflies. As he shares in his other book, he is no stranger to pain, grief, and really hard times of waiting. This isn’t a book that presents the power of positive thinking as the recipe to contentment and satisfaction.
He just takes something that the world has a constructed a perception and worldview around (waiting) and removes the blinders for us. He calls us back to God’s design for waiting.
“Waiting is the spiritual posture of endurance.”
He says that he’s not a fan of acronyms but because in those moments it’s hard to think or recall too deeply, he made an exception for this.
He uses FAST to help reorient his perspective and his mindset in the waiting:
Focus: The picture he gave here was of a sickly person coming outside to be warmed by the sun. I found this a really compelling image and one I can definitely relate to. To be in the light. To lift my face to the warm sun and feel it wash over me. It’s the picture of looking to God in our cold and dark waiting times. It’s letting him and who he is cover me and penetrate to my bones reminding me it’s going to be okay.
Adore: “worshipfully rehearse what you know to be true about God.” He offers a list of relevant Scriptures in the back of the book to meditate on. I think reflecting on really well-written lyrics of worship songs can do this as well. We may think ‘Oh I already know who God is’ but it’s something very different to read the words repeatedly, or out loud, or write them down, or to pray them that connects our knowledge to our hearts.
Seek- “it is active not fatalistic resignation.” I think this is an important distinction because if we believe in God’s sovereignty, it’s tempting to just say we’re going to wait it out because what’s the point, God’s going to do what he wants to do. But that’s not biblical waiting. I like how he says, “patient waiting is not fatalistic or pessimistic. It’s the hopeful commitment to seek God’s help creatively and faithfully while staying put.”
Trust- “embrace by faith the contentment and spiritual rest that come from knowing God can be trusted.” Waiting typically generates anger or anxiety because waiting takes away our control and the ability to be certain about what comes next. If we are trusting, we don’t have to be fearful or anxious. If we are seeing God for who he is and seeking to see him at work in our waiting, there won’t be room for anger or anxiety.
Throughout the book Vroegop walks through Psalm 40 and quotes extensively from Andrew Murray’s work to show us how a Christian is called to wait.
Waiting is an act of obedience. Waiting is abiding. Waiting connects us to hope. Waiting gives feet to our faith, even if those feet are called to be still instead of run around in circles. Waiting isn’t about what is happening to us, but what could happen in us.
Not only as a human being who has to wait way more than I would like to, but also as a mother of four children who think 30 seconds is an eternity, this book gave me a lot to think about. My kids hate waiting and they will basically never not have to wait so why not stretch their waiting ‘muscle’ now. To teach kids this from an early age would be hugely beneficial in the long run because their expectations will already be adjusted.
The things we wait for as adults are heavier than the snack or screen time waits of children, but the principle doesn’t change.
I think this book is highly relevant and a great read for anyone.
As I’ve said, I hate wasted time, and I can promise you that reading this book is not a waste of yours.
“… they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” — Isaiah 40:30
“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” — Psalm 27:13-14
**Received a copy of this book from Crossway Books in exchange for an honest review.**
Book Review Blog | Facebook | Pinterest | StoryGraph
April 1, 2025
*audiobooked* What if I told you I cried a lot, would that be embarrassing? Surely not. Author of Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament brought us another awesome book. Feeling really comforted by the Psalms that Vroegop carries us through in this book. Highly recommend for a deep-dive into any kind of waiting: in line at the store, for test results, for a job offer, etc. Waiting is good, slow, common, biblical, relational, hard, and commanded.
August 12, 2025
“Waiting is living in what I know to be true about God when I don’t know what is true about my life.”
Listened to this in preparation for a sermon from Psalms. This short book is packed full of wisdom and insight on the biblical and yet neglected concept of waiting on God. This book ministered to my soul. Highly recommend.
Listened to this in preparation for a sermon from Psalms. This short book is packed full of wisdom and insight on the biblical and yet neglected concept of waiting on God. This book ministered to my soul. Highly recommend.
July 14, 2024
I’m going to have to read a physical copy of this book instead of just listening to it. Might buy 20 copies to keep on hand to give away - it’s that good.
February 6, 2025
This book describes waiting on God as leaning into what we know to be true about God when we don’t know what is true about our lives. He hits on control, patience, all the things that I struggle with the most 🫠 It was soooo convicting but also really encouraging!
I listened to the audio book and then immediately ordered a physical copy for myself and another one to have on hand to be able to give out when a friend needs it. Vroegop’s writing has been such a gift to me lately - I’m thankful for his presence in the contemporary church!
I listened to the audio book and then immediately ordered a physical copy for myself and another one to have on hand to be able to give out when a friend needs it. Vroegop’s writing has been such a gift to me lately - I’m thankful for his presence in the contemporary church!
February 7, 2025
A introductory look at the topic of "waiting"/ "hoping" in God. For a reader who is just approaching this topic for the first time this would be an excellent read. For a more seasoned reader this book would be basic.
For a reader wanting something deeper he references other books he has read on this topic quite a bit. I loved his first book on the topic of "lament" and he refers to this book as well.
He approached this act of waiting by divinding it into:
1. honestly- it's hard
2. frequently- it's common
3. thoughtfully- it's Biblical
4. patiently- it's slow
5. intentionally- it's commanded
6. collectively- it's relational.
The appendex had a wealth of information and more Scripture references about WHO the Lord is and Waiting in the Psalms.
"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope." Ps 130:5
💬𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘵:𝘩𝘵𝘵𝘱𝘴://𝘸𝘸𝘸.𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮.𝘤𝘰𝘮/𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴/
💬*𝙈𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠.*
For a reader wanting something deeper he references other books he has read on this topic quite a bit. I loved his first book on the topic of "lament" and he refers to this book as well.
He approached this act of waiting by divinding it into:
1. honestly- it's hard
2. frequently- it's common
3. thoughtfully- it's Biblical
4. patiently- it's slow
5. intentionally- it's commanded
6. collectively- it's relational.
The appendex had a wealth of information and more Scripture references about WHO the Lord is and Waiting in the Psalms.
"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope." Ps 130:5
💬𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘵:𝘩𝘵𝘵𝘱𝘴://𝘸𝘸𝘸.𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮.𝘤𝘰𝘮/𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴/
💬*𝙈𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠.*
October 14, 2025
A million stars. I can’t recommend this book enough!! What an encouragement and conviction to be reminded that as followers of Christ, we are called to wait; yet God is so faithful and working in our waiting.
“I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living!
Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!”
Psalm 27:13-14
“I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living!
Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!”
Psalm 27:13-14
March 28, 2025
Recommending it to literally everyone i know. it doesn’t matter if you’re waiting for a husband, a house, a job, a baby, reconciliation, or just stuck in nashville traffic. It’s SO GOOD. quick read ~100 pages and easy language. Will be keeping a physical copy on my shelf for years to come.
October 7, 2024
Full of so much truth for every follower of Jesus in every season of life. We’re all waiting on God for something(s).
July 16, 2025
“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.” Psalm 39:7
Well there’s so much to say about this book that I certainly won’t be able to fit into this review. One of the greatest perspective shifts of my life.
What are we waiting for? Not our circumstances to change, not on our earthly dreams and desires to be met, but we wait on the Lord. We place our hope in not what we don’t know to be true about our lives, but what we do know is true about God.
Anger, anxiety, apathy are all responses we commonly face during waiting, and that just exposes our desire for control.
So we wait = seek the Lord (not doing nothing)
I encouraged everyone to read this book, it will enrich your faith.
“There will come a day when our wedding will be over. Our Faith will be site. Everything will be complete. Eternal life will replace our temporary sense of time… we’ll see our God just as he is. We’ll know exactly what’s true about him because we’ll be with him forever. Until that great day, we are waiting on God.” P 110
Well there’s so much to say about this book that I certainly won’t be able to fit into this review. One of the greatest perspective shifts of my life.
What are we waiting for? Not our circumstances to change, not on our earthly dreams and desires to be met, but we wait on the Lord. We place our hope in not what we don’t know to be true about our lives, but what we do know is true about God.
Anger, anxiety, apathy are all responses we commonly face during waiting, and that just exposes our desire for control.
So we wait = seek the Lord (not doing nothing)
I encouraged everyone to read this book, it will enrich your faith.
“There will come a day when our wedding will be over. Our Faith will be site. Everything will be complete. Eternal life will replace our temporary sense of time… we’ll see our God just as he is. We’ll know exactly what’s true about him because we’ll be with him forever. Until that great day, we are waiting on God.” P 110
March 7, 2025
Waiting is hard, but it can still be good and beautiful if we don't waste it. In our culture of instant gratification waiting is viewed as an intolerable evil to be eliminated in every sphere of life, but I'm convinced that this is a plot of the devil to keep us from experiencing the blessings that come from waiting on God.
I'm finding that Mark Vroegop is becoming one of my favorite authors. He speaks biblically, clearly, and compassionately and examines waiting from angles I had never even considered, such as waiting intentionally, practicing waiting even if you're not in a season of waiting, and waiting as the church. He gives comfort, encouragement, and practical examples to help you make the most of your waiting.
I highly recommend this book and I'm sure I will revisit it in the future.
I'm finding that Mark Vroegop is becoming one of my favorite authors. He speaks biblically, clearly, and compassionately and examines waiting from angles I had never even considered, such as waiting intentionally, practicing waiting even if you're not in a season of waiting, and waiting as the church. He gives comfort, encouragement, and practical examples to help you make the most of your waiting.
I highly recommend this book and I'm sure I will revisit it in the future.
January 8, 2025
wow… a lovely book on a sucky topic. This book has genuinely made me rethink all of my seasons of waiting, and honestly my whole life, in a good way. thank you Grace Hunt for recommending <3 Love that it wasn’t super long too. Unfortunately the audiobook reader sounds like a robot, but that only brought it down to a 9/10 listen. Still so so good
January 9, 2025
Remarkable, profound, evergreen. Will revisit this often!
August 11, 2025
Main point: Biblical waiting is trusting what we know to be true about God when we don’t know what is true about our lives. Listened on audio but plan to get a paper copy to revisit. Lots of practical suggestions for waiting intentionally on God with a biblical perspective.
January 31, 2025
A book I’ll come back to again and again. Applicable to any season of waiting
August 17, 2025
Read this in a day, so so good! This was great for an impatient gal like me. Waiting is an essential part of the Christian life and this really helped shape my perspective on it. “We reject the good in front of us because we expected some other good from God.” 🔥
December 21, 2024
would give it another star if I could!!! going to read this again immediately bc it was that good!! simple, clear, biblical, repetitive (in the best way!)
July 20, 2024
Waiting for something visible is difficult for most of us. Waiting for what we can’t see is often worse. Vroegop, lead pastor of College Park Church in Indianapolis and a TGC Board member, explains how to redeem our inevitable waiting periods. Covering some of the same territory as Kelly Kapic’s book You’re Only Human, he reminds us we’re finite creatures designed with limitations. We can’t speed up time or see the future. We have to depend on a good God in our “gap moments.”
Read my full review at https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/re...
Read my full review at https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/re...
November 30, 2025
Put this at the top of your reading list!!! “The best time to learn how to wait is before you have to”. I have already told like 25 people about this book in daily conversation. So immediately helpful. Will be rereading and referencing a lot. Free to listen to on Spotify premium again!!
July 4, 2025
I need to tell you a story.
Last Wednesday, my heart and mind broke under the pressure I’ve been feeling in this season. I had a Jonah4-like moment where because of the heat of the day I despaired of life itself and begin to grow bitter towards God.
It was 106° and I was building fences in the heat of the day and because of my present circumstance, I began to grow angry at God because of all of the unfortunate things that have happened to me in recent days. Fundamentally speaking, I was impatient.
One thing you should know about me is that I love thunderstorms. I find them immensely comforting. As I drove home after work and was praying to God, I asked the Lord to send a rain. Not just any rain, a thunderstorm that I could sit on my porch and watch with my wife over a book and cup of coffee. I wanted the word to give me a blessing on my timing. And he didn’t…. In fact it got hotter.
That evening I went to church and in the sovereign plan of God one of our pastors was preaching on none other than patience……. That’s right; patience.
As I was sitting in that pew under the preaching of God’s word, my pastor again to preach James 5:7. It reads like this, “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains".
That’s right, “late rains”. If you’re not familiar with “late rains“, this is a metaphorical picture of God‘s present faithfulness in his own timing. As soon as my pastor began preaching on these late rains, I was moved to tears.
And just when I thought that it couldn’t get any more providential and spirit-filled I heard thunder roar, and a monsoon of raindrops tap the ceiling of our sanctuary. With every rumble of thunder, it was like the Lord was yelling “amen!” to the Holy Spirit’s work on my heart through the preaching.
The Lord sent the rain.
Immediately I reached down to order this book by way of an action in repentance. But my wife stopped me before I could and said, “honey, it will be here Friday”.
Yes… earlier that day the Holy Spirit put it on her heart to order it for me as a ministry to both of our hearts in this season of waiting.
I tell you this story because like every Christian that’s ever lived, I am someone who is learning to wait.
This book ministered to my soul. It didn’t solve all of my heart struggles or present circumstance. But it did give me practical insight to not waste my waiting. And I’d like to think I’m getting a little better every day.
If you’re like me, and you’re waiting… Get this book for your own soul.
5/5
And don’t forget, He will send the rain.
Last Wednesday, my heart and mind broke under the pressure I’ve been feeling in this season. I had a Jonah4-like moment where because of the heat of the day I despaired of life itself and begin to grow bitter towards God.
It was 106° and I was building fences in the heat of the day and because of my present circumstance, I began to grow angry at God because of all of the unfortunate things that have happened to me in recent days. Fundamentally speaking, I was impatient.
One thing you should know about me is that I love thunderstorms. I find them immensely comforting. As I drove home after work and was praying to God, I asked the Lord to send a rain. Not just any rain, a thunderstorm that I could sit on my porch and watch with my wife over a book and cup of coffee. I wanted the word to give me a blessing on my timing. And he didn’t…. In fact it got hotter.
That evening I went to church and in the sovereign plan of God one of our pastors was preaching on none other than patience……. That’s right; patience.
As I was sitting in that pew under the preaching of God’s word, my pastor again to preach James 5:7. It reads like this, “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains".
That’s right, “late rains”. If you’re not familiar with “late rains“, this is a metaphorical picture of God‘s present faithfulness in his own timing. As soon as my pastor began preaching on these late rains, I was moved to tears.
And just when I thought that it couldn’t get any more providential and spirit-filled I heard thunder roar, and a monsoon of raindrops tap the ceiling of our sanctuary. With every rumble of thunder, it was like the Lord was yelling “amen!” to the Holy Spirit’s work on my heart through the preaching.
The Lord sent the rain.
Immediately I reached down to order this book by way of an action in repentance. But my wife stopped me before I could and said, “honey, it will be here Friday”.
Yes… earlier that day the Holy Spirit put it on her heart to order it for me as a ministry to both of our hearts in this season of waiting.
I tell you this story because like every Christian that’s ever lived, I am someone who is learning to wait.
This book ministered to my soul. It didn’t solve all of my heart struggles or present circumstance. But it did give me practical insight to not waste my waiting. And I’d like to think I’m getting a little better every day.
If you’re like me, and you’re waiting… Get this book for your own soul.
5/5
And don’t forget, He will send the rain.
August 2, 2024
Waiting. It’s something we all have to do. Maybe you’re waiting right now. From small to large, we can be waiting for a host of things. Most of life involves waiting for something.
Chances are, you don’t like waiting. I know I don’t. I’d rather be in action mode, moving on to the next step or finding the answer to why I’m waiting at all. We live in a world where most things we want are given to us instantly… hello, Google, Amazon, and the drive thru! As the author points out, waiting isn’t really valued in our culture.
But, what God has to say about waiting may surprise you. In this book, you’ll take a closer look at six characteristics that show us what it means to wait on God and how to embrace waiting.
💭 My thoughts:
I slowly read through this book, highlighting almost all of it (ha!) and trying to let it soak in. Lord knows, I needed this book. I’m bad at waiting and I often turn to unscriptural emotions when waiting like panic or anxiety. I appreciate that the author sticks to the Bible and uses rich, theological teachings throughout. There are also four practical appendixes and a Scripture index included!
I can honestly say, I never have considered waiting to have so many dimensions! I loved this deeper study and think it would beneficial to all Christian’s to read.
“The children of God are, and always have been, called upon to wait.”
“Waiting is good. What’s more, waiting is commanded. Let that sink in.”
“Have you ever considered that God could have immediately raised Jesus from the dead after he cried, “it is finished” (John 19:30)? Instead, a time of waiting— days of grief, confusion, and fear— was built into the divine plan.
Thank you @crosswaybooks for my #gifted copy of the book for my honest opinion.
Chances are, you don’t like waiting. I know I don’t. I’d rather be in action mode, moving on to the next step or finding the answer to why I’m waiting at all. We live in a world where most things we want are given to us instantly… hello, Google, Amazon, and the drive thru! As the author points out, waiting isn’t really valued in our culture.
But, what God has to say about waiting may surprise you. In this book, you’ll take a closer look at six characteristics that show us what it means to wait on God and how to embrace waiting.
💭 My thoughts:
I slowly read through this book, highlighting almost all of it (ha!) and trying to let it soak in. Lord knows, I needed this book. I’m bad at waiting and I often turn to unscriptural emotions when waiting like panic or anxiety. I appreciate that the author sticks to the Bible and uses rich, theological teachings throughout. There are also four practical appendixes and a Scripture index included!
I can honestly say, I never have considered waiting to have so many dimensions! I loved this deeper study and think it would beneficial to all Christian’s to read.
“The children of God are, and always have been, called upon to wait.”
“Waiting is good. What’s more, waiting is commanded. Let that sink in.”
“Have you ever considered that God could have immediately raised Jesus from the dead after he cried, “it is finished” (John 19:30)? Instead, a time of waiting— days of grief, confusion, and fear— was built into the divine plan.
Thank you @crosswaybooks for my #gifted copy of the book for my honest opinion.
September 22, 2024
Waiting can be hard, slow, and filled with uncertainty, but it’s also an opportunity to grow closer to God. By exploring six key characteristics of waiting, you'll discover how to embrace it as a path to wisdom, deeper faith, and invaluable peace, learning to trust God rather than rush ahead.
The only reason I know this book is transformative is because, somehow, I’m grateful for what I’ve waited for. That might seem wild, but when I think back, I realize just how thankful I am for what God’s taught me through waiting. Recognizing that I’m always waiting for something is actually liberating.
I’ve waited for career direction, and now that I’ve got a new job, I’m waiting for the ministry to kick off (this Thursday night—eeeek!!). After that, I’ll be waiting to see it grow. It’s an endless cycle. And that’s just one part of life. I’m waiting for a home, to get married, finish my dissertation, crush my TBR 🤪—the list never ends! Yet, I’m walking away from this book not just thankful for what I’ve learned in waiting, but also thankful that I’m still waiting.
I wouldn’t have wanted these things any sooner. As hard as it is, I know I’ll be thanking God for the waiting I’m doing today.
Wait honestly, patiently, and intentionally. And whatever you’re waiting for—don’t wait to read this book 😉
Thank you @crosswaybooks for sending a copy! This book is a true gift 💜
Perfect for you if you like:
Finding purpose in waiting
Blend of real life examples and biblical wisdom
Personal growth through patience
Similar to:
Our Deepest Desires by Gregory E. Ganssle
It’s Not Suppose to Be This Way by Lisa Terkeurst
Tired of Being Tired by Jess Connolly
The only reason I know this book is transformative is because, somehow, I’m grateful for what I’ve waited for. That might seem wild, but when I think back, I realize just how thankful I am for what God’s taught me through waiting. Recognizing that I’m always waiting for something is actually liberating.
I’ve waited for career direction, and now that I’ve got a new job, I’m waiting for the ministry to kick off (this Thursday night—eeeek!!). After that, I’ll be waiting to see it grow. It’s an endless cycle. And that’s just one part of life. I’m waiting for a home, to get married, finish my dissertation, crush my TBR 🤪—the list never ends! Yet, I’m walking away from this book not just thankful for what I’ve learned in waiting, but also thankful that I’m still waiting.
I wouldn’t have wanted these things any sooner. As hard as it is, I know I’ll be thanking God for the waiting I’m doing today.
Wait honestly, patiently, and intentionally. And whatever you’re waiting for—don’t wait to read this book 😉
Thank you @crosswaybooks for sending a copy! This book is a true gift 💜
Perfect for you if you like:
Finding purpose in waiting
Blend of real life examples and biblical wisdom
Personal growth through patience
Similar to:
Our Deepest Desires by Gregory E. Ganssle
It’s Not Suppose to Be This Way by Lisa Terkeurst
Tired of Being Tired by Jess Connolly
July 5, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up! Would recommend to a friend struggling with the gaps in life. This book was much needed and very helpful, all about how to wait for the Lord. Waiting is probably one of my least favorite things to do in life, but Mark Vroegop reminds us that this is an essential part of being a Christian and desires to help us shift our perspective on waiting. My favorite chapter was on waiting collectively (the last chapter). I know more now about how God purposefully uses waiting throughout the Bible and in my life today. My only complaint was that it often felt a little repetitive or slow, but considering the subject and my personal difficulty with things being slow in general, there may not actually be an issue (probably just my attitude ha). I think I will probably need to read it again sometime. 😆
June 5, 2024
{Thank you to @netgalley and @crosswaybooks for my gifted e-copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.}
“I’m going to point you toward this vision of waiting: living on what you know to be true about God when you don’t know what’s true about your life. When practiced correctly, it means embracing the gaps in life as an opportunity to place our hope in God.”
By the author of “Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy,” “Waiting Isn’t a Waste” is an absolute must-read. I highlighted so much of this book, and I know that what I read in these pages will stay with me.
This book is full of theological truth but also practical, biblical advice. The book explores six different characteristics that waiting has and how to navigate waiting in a way that glorifies God and grabs hold of His peace and rest.
Truly, this book was so wise. I can’t recommend “Waiting Isn’t a Waste” enough.
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