Waiting: A Bible Study on Patience, Hope, and Trust

by Sharla Fritz

Waiting is a Bible study by Sharla Fritz that offers women the encouragement they need to endure the disappointment of delay with patience, hope, and trust. This study examines the lives of eight faithful women in Scripture who were asked to wait. As you study these women and read their stories, you will discover how to handle your own seasons of waiting and be reminded of what God calls you to do as you wait on Him.

So, as you wait—whatever you might be waiting for—gather a few friends, pick up your Bible, and enjoy this eight-session study that will remind you of God's faithfulness and the promises in His Word, which will ultimately renew your spirit and help you become a child of God who waits well—a woman who waits with patience, hope, and trust.

Genres: Theology, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

Published June 7, 2017

About the author

Sharla Fritz has been described as an amazing eye-opening speaker and author. Her books Divine Directions, Measured by Grace, Enough for Now, Distracted, Waiting, and others have given thousands of women the tools to dig into Scripture and experience a transformation of their attitudes and heart. With light-hearted stories and thought-provoking applications, she makes Bible study fun and uplifting.


Sharla makes her home in the Chicago area where she is also a pastor’s wife, mother, grandmother, musician, and confirmed chocoholic. And if she isn’t sitting at her piano or computer, you might find her stalking fabulous fashion finds at the local resale shop.

Reviews

[Deb Burma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sharla Fritz’s engaging new book, Waiting: A Bible Study on Patience, Hope, and Trust, is a home-run hit for this girl who struggles with waiting: for answers, for direction, for healing…for my fast-food order…for everything! I stew…I squirm…I sweat. I don’t like waiting! (Can you relate?)

It’s difficult to wait well, isn’t it? Everything in our instant world says, “Why wait?” And yet, the reality is, many times we must. This book is teaching me there’s a purpose for every “pause” in my life, even when I fail to see it as I wait.

Receive tremendous encouragement, comfort, and hope as you wait in this season: of life, of the year, of your career, of struggles, in your relationships. Whatever the reason for your wait, know that the Lord holds your hand. He is at work, even when you don’t see it. Don’t despair in the delay; it may be a divine interruption for His purpose and His plans…all in His timing and by His grace for you in Christ. And while you wait, you can do so expectantly, confident of God's provision. What might He be teaching you? And what actions can you take, even while you wait?

Through the historical accounts of women in Scripture who waited on the Lord (such as Sarah, Hannah, Martha...and more), you and I can learn to wait WELL. With Biblical depth and wisdom, the author give us a fascinating peek into the cultural context (including backgrounds, timelines, and maps!) of personal narratives in Biblical history. And she provides practical application, enabling us to relate with each woman, personalizing their stories to ours. With authenticity, grace, and even a bit of humor, Sharla shares her own personal stories, too, having lived through multiple reasons and seasons of waiting! In addition to her insightful teaching of this difficult topic, she's provided creative study questions for growth and reflection, and the opportunity to dig deeper in Scripture, where the Holy Spirit will speak into our lives and throughout our seasons of waiting. May the Lord enable us to see the “pause” in our plans as an opportunity to grow in trust of the One who is working in the midst of it.

“[God] specializes in coming through when everything appears hopeless to us.” - Sharla Fritz

If you’ve ever had to wait (and who hasn’t?!), this book is for YOU! It’s a must-read for personal growth and study; it’s a perfect choice for small-group or large-group Bible study; and it’s a welcomed gift for a friend. Thank you, Sharla!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone struggling with a season of waiting, this is the go-to book. Bringing fresh insight and teaching to the topic, author Sharla Fritz aptly teaches how these are just seasons but they are hard seasons, given to us by God, eventually resulting in God’s intervention. Along the way we have the choice to wait well or take matters into our own hands.

As we study eight ladies-in-waiting from Scripture, the author contrasts the consequences of taking matters into our own hands rather than waiting with the blessings of waiting well. She does this with wonderful in-depth study of those eight ladies-in-waiting and from her own vulnerable life examples as she experienced infertility, then a long-distance move for her daughter. All readers will be able to relate—and be changed.

With timelines, historical facts, and maps, the author brings wonderful teaching to a hard topic. Her book would be excellent for solo study but likely richest if you read and digest with other followers. The author asks if these seasons of waiting can be God’s best classrooms for us. As someone who has experienced long seasons of waiting, in hindsight I do see them as a classroom. This book will help others gain that insight as well.

“We will find a pause on our plotline doesn’t mean the end of our story.” Sharla Fritz

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The biblical accounts were great. The connections made with her personal life regarding waiting were depressing and for the most part did not seem to really connect with the Bible accounts she shared. Most of chapters lacked or did not point to the gospel.
The best part of this book was the last chapter based on the 10 virgins. The Gospel message was clear and very well connected in this chapter.
Her epilogue was great. It connected all the stories together really well. The added information and explanations in highlighted boxes columns were excellent.
This bible study overall was a little disappointing. It often stirred some interesting discussions often leading us to end the study on a solemn note. If you want to stay focused on the Word and God's grace this book is not for you. If you do not mind digging deeper into Scripture and researching in addition to this book then this may be the right study for you ( which I know several of us did).
She does provide study questions and answer guide in back of the book which I thought was great.

[Beth Foreman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful study of eight waiting women in the Bible! I was surprised by the depth in this little book. Our women's Bible study group just completed this study. All agreed it was excellent! It's well-written and in-depth without being too overwhelming. Sharla includes her own stories as she explores how these women waited, sometimes well, other times not so well. She also adds timelines, maps and plenty of historical information to give readers a picture of the time period. For example, in the chapter on the widow of Zarephath, we learn about bread-making and upper rooms in 860 BC. Readers are encouraged to take a look at themselves and how we wait in all situations from the grocery store line to the hospital. It's an excellent study to do on your own or with a group. She offers four options for study, depending on how much time you have -- reflection, digging into Scripture, applying the lesson to your life, and even completing a project.

[April Yamasaki · Rating 5 out of 5]

When this book was released in 2017, I wrote a review on my blog even before I had finished reading the book because I loved the way author Sharla Fritz shares her own story of waiting and relates it to the biblical women featured in her book. And yes, I'm well aware of the irony that I couldn't wait to share her book on waiting! Then in 2018, I recommended Waiting as a resource for small groups since it includes both solid input and a helpful study guide. Now I'm finally adding the book to my "read" shelf. I appreciate its conversational tone, stories, and good teaching on how to wait with patience, hope, and trust.

[Kate Bosch · Rating 2 out of 5]

This Bible study was reasonably scripturally sound, but the waiting theme seemed forced. There was too much anecdotal filler. The ideas presented did not seem big enough for an entire book and there was a lot that could have been edited out. The theme of waiting grew tiresome as the only lens through which to view the Bible stories that were discussed. I find that Bible studies aimed at women are often a bit fluffy, try too hard to relate to everyday life, and don't have enough theological meat for me, and this book was no exception.

[emyrose8 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of great takeaways from this bible study book on waiting. It's a book for all ages since we're all waiting for something. There are some really neat facts about culture from biblical times. The author speculates on the women's lives perhaps a wee bit much, but it's easy to recognize as speculation. I learned a lot; Sharla's writing made me think about these well-known bible women in a fresh light.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this study. When I purchased, I did not know how much I needed to read a story on waiting. The scripture stories pair wonderfully with each topic. I have a greater appreciation for all the ladies who have waited on the Lord!

I was to read through this with a friend for the eight weeks but the study was so relevant and words I needed to hear that I read ahead on my own and then again when going through with my friend!

[Afton Rorvik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always like Sharla's books. She does such a good job of weaving story and research together. I learn a lot, and I think a lot. She also writes wonderful, thought-provoking questions. When I picked up this Bible study, I didn't think I could learn much about waiting. I was wrong. I'm still thinking about some of the principles.

[Kristin Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably one of the reasons I give this Bible study a 5 is that a dear friend sent it me at a fitting time in my life. Also I worked through it with a friend doing some waiting of her own. Historical sidebars, Biblical background, and quotes from Luther and CS Lewis made the book even better. I would read another Bible study by Sharla Fritz.

[Sondra Retzlaff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this Bible study. It's been a good companion through a lot of waiting--during a pandemic, through health situations, and career introspection. I am sure I will work through more of her studies one day.

[Lynn Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our small group read this together. Women of the Bible waited for many different reasons, just like we do. Loved the extra bits of culture, history, and original languages the author included. They added depth and interest. The study prompted several meaningful conversations within our group.

[Julie Horton · Rating 4 out of 5]

We used this book as part of a Bible Study. Loved reading about the lives of biblical women waiting...

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I needed that! I spent 8 months in God’s waiting room this past year. It is comforting to know that I am in good company. Very nice study on waiting with excellent biblical and personal accounts.