I Know I Said I Was Waiting on God, But…

Thursday, July 3, 2025

Proverbs 13:12 (NIV) - “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”

Let’s Be Real Together

Let me sit across from you like we’re just two friends at a kitchen table. No pretense. No performance. Just presence and honesty. Breathe with me—deep and full. Let yourself slow down enough to ask the question you’ve been avoiding: Am I really waiting on God… or am I afraid to move?

Now, listen. I know you love God. You’ve prayed the prayers. You’ve circled the dreams in your journal. You’ve fasted, cried, declared, and waited with expectation. But somewhere along the way, the line between “I’m waiting on the Lord” and “I’m scared to move” started to blur. And that’s not something to feel ashamed about. That’s something to get curious about.

Because delay, when it stretches too long and becomes a way of life, doesn’t just slow you down—it weakens your hope. It trains your heart to lower its expectations. And before you know it, you’re not just waiting—you’re hiding. Not just praying—you’re avoiding. And the saddest part? You start to think it’s wise.

I’ve been there. And I want to tell you that God is not disappointed in your delay—but He is inviting you out of it. Not because He’s rushing you, but because He sees what delay is costing you. It’s costing you joy. It’s costing you peace. It’s costing you clarity. And most of all, it’s costing you the momentum that comes when you move with God, not just believe in Him.

Understanding What Delay Is and Isn’t

Proverbs 13:12 tells us, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” This names what we often try to dismiss. When something you’ve hoped for keeps getting pushed back, when every time you try to move forward it feels like doors keep slamming or your own voice talks you out of it—you don’t just feel disappointment. You feel sick. Soul-sick. Heart-weary. Like life is moving, but you’re stuck in a holding pattern you didn’t choose.

But what’s powerful about this Scripture is that it contrasts that heart-sickness with a tree of life. Fulfilled longings don’t just bring satisfaction—they bring vitality. They restore something deep in you. And that’s God’s heart. He’s not just dangling hope in front of you like a carrot. He’s trying to grow something in you that’s deeply rooted and life-giving.

But we have to be willing to tell the truth: not all waiting is obedience. Some of it is avoidance. Some of it is unhealed fear, unresolved grief, or a survival strategy that used to protect us but is now holding us back. Throughout the Bible, we see moments when God told people to wait—but we also see Him say, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to move.” (Exodus 14:15)

We’ve got to get honest about which one we’re in. Because if you’re calling fear “faith” or hiding behind a spiritual phrase that sounds noble but keeps you immobile, it’s time for a holy interruption. God wants to set you free not just from sin, but from stuck.

How Delay Affects Your Body and Brain

Let’s talk about what’s really happening inside you—physiologically, neurologically, emotionally—when you live in delay.

When you continually put off movement toward your dream, your brain learns to associate that dream with stress. Your dopaminergic system, which is responsible for motivation, excitement, and goal-directed behavior, stops getting activated. That means you lose the “spark” to act. It’s not that you’re lazy—it’s that your reward system has gone quiet because every time you think about the dream, your body remembers disappointment.

Your nervous system, trying to protect you, moves into a freeze response. You may still be working, serving, taking care of people—but when it comes to that thing God whispered to you, your body gets tense. Your breath shortens. Your shoulders slump. You scroll instead of planning. You clean instead of creating. You say, “I’m praying on it,” but what you’re really doing is postponing your yes.

That’s not because something’s wrong with you. It’s because your nervous system is doing what it was designed to do—keep you safe. But the problem is, it’s mislabeling your purpose as a threat. And when that happens, you’ll never feel ready. That’s why we don’t wait for the feeling—we move by faith.

Let’s Do Some Deep Inner Work Together

Let’s go deeper now. Not into your schedule or your strategy, but into your soul. Into the places where you’ve been waiting, not because God said to, but because someone else’s voice has been louder than His. When delay becomes a habit, there’s almost always a voice behind it—one that has shaped the way you think about timing, calling, and your own readiness. It’s subtle, but powerful. And today, I want to help you name it, because what we don’t name will quietly keep running our lives.

This is what I call a “Voice Audit.” And no, you don’t need to journal this in a fancy notebook or do it perfectly. You just need to be present and honest. That’s where transformation begins.

Start by bringing to mind something you’ve delayed—something that keeps resurfacing in your spirit but hasn’t made it into action. Maybe it’s a business you’ve dreamed of launching, a workshop you’re supposed to teach, a book you know you’re meant to write, or even a hard but holy conversation you’ve been avoiding. Just let that come to the surface. No pressure. Just hold it there.

Now tune into the internal dialogue that rises up when you think about finally doing it. What do you hear? Maybe the voice says, “You’re not ready,” or “This has already been done, and better,” or “You’re going to mess this up and look foolish.” Maybe it’s more subtle—like a tightening in your chest or a small voice that says, “Not now… not yet… wait a little longer.”

Here’s the key question: whose voice is that?

Is it yours? Is it the voice of a parent who doubted you? A mentor who made you feel small? A past failure that never got resolved? Or is it the voice of fear disguised as logic?

Now that we’ve named it, let’s shift it. I want you to take that voice and hold it up to the truth of God. For example, if you hear “You’re not ready,” ask yourself what God actually says about your readiness. Scripture tells us that He equips those He calls—that His grace is sufficient, and that our weakness is the very space He fills with strength. So instead of rehearsing the voice of fear, speak the truth: “I may not feel ready, but God has prepared me for this. I have what I need to begin.”

The real transformation comes when you speak that truth out loud. Yes, really out loud. Your voice carries authority. When you let your body hear your own mouth declare something different, your brain begins to build new pathways. Your spirit aligns with heaven’s perspective. And even if you feel shaky doing it, something begins to break open.

This isn’t about faking confidence. It’s about choosing truth. Every time you do this, you weaken the grip of delay and strengthen the voice of obedience. And over time, that’s how you begin to live free.

A Sacred Reset

Now that your mind and heart have been stirred, it’s time to engage your body. Because God designed our whole being to walk in truth—not just our beliefs, but our bodies, too. Sometimes, the most spiritual thing you can do is take a step—literally.

This practice is something I call the “Three Steps Forward” Prayer Walk. It’s simple, but sacred. And I want you to treat it with the same reverence you would a prayer at the altar. Because that’s what this is. An altar of movement.

Find a space—your hallway, living room, porch, or backyard. It doesn’t need to be big. Just somewhere you can take three steps forward without distraction. Stand tall. Close your eyes for a moment if you need to. Let your body settle. Let your spirit settle. And when you’re ready, begin.

As you take the first step, speak these words aloud:

“God, I release the belief that I have to wait until I feel ready.”

Feel that? That step is breaking agreement with perfectionism. It’s releasing the false idea that you need more time, more credentials, or more validation to be obedient.

Take your second step and say:

“I trust that Your timing is now and You’ve already gone before me.”

That’s the faith step. That’s the step that says, “Even if I can’t see it, I believe You’re in it. Even if I don’t have the full map, I trust the next mile is covered.”

Now, take your final step and declare:

“I move in faith today, not in fear. I break agreement with delay.”

Let that step be prophetic. Let it be physical. Let it be real. You’re not just walking—you’re shifting something in the spirit. You’re declaring that you are no longer partnering with the lie that says you’re too late, too much, or not enough.

And here’s what I want you to do—don’t just do this once. Repeat this walk every morning for the next three days. Don’t rush it. Don’t perform it. Just show up, speak truth, and step forward. Let your body learn what your spirit already knows: forward is sacred. Movement is holy. And God is right here, walking with you.

Faith-Based Affirmations

• I was never called to wait forever—I’m called to walk by faith.

• I break every agreement with delay and align my body, mind, and spirit with divine timing.

• I am not behind. I’m right on time for what God has planned.

Reflection Questions

1. Where have I labeled fear as wisdom or passivity as patience?

2. What voice have I been listening to that doesn’t sound like God?

3. What one action could I take this week to prophetically break my agreement with delay?

Prayer Targets

• God, show me every hidden place in my heart where I’ve agreed with delay more than Your voice.

• Holy Spirit, teach my body and mind to trust Your timing, even when I feel unqualified.

• Jesus, give me boldness to move with You—even when the steps don’t feel clear.

Song of the Day

Let this song become a declaration. As you listen, open your heart and say, “Lord, whatever I’ve been making more room for than You—fear, delay, comfort—I give it back. Have Your way.” Let the music become a moment of movement.

Let’s connect. Not just in the comments, not just with a double tap. I want to know what’s been on your heart. Let’s talk, dream out loud, pray if you need it, laugh if you feel like it, just real space for real conversation.

Listen to Meditation

Become a Dream Sponsor Here