Pastor Tricia's Ramblings

Paul understood that idleness opens the door for trouble. In 2 Thessalonians 3:11, he says, “We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies.”

That’s what happens when we stop focusing on what God called us to do. We fill the silence with gossip, comparison, distraction, and doubt. When our hands stop working, our minds start wandering.

Idleness isn’t just about physical laziness—it’s about spiritual neglect. It’s when we quit praying, stop serving, and lose our hunger for the Word. And when that happens, we begin to drift from purpose.

Paul reminds them—and us—that Jesus was never idle. Before He ever preached a sermon or healed the sick, He worked as a carpenter. The Son of God spent years shaping wood with His hands before He began shaping hearts with His words. His earthly labor prepared Him for His heavenly mission.

Paul followed that same example. He worked as a tentmaker, supporting himself while spreading the gospel. His life said loud and clear: If you’re waiting for God, keep your hands busy with what He’s already given you to do.

Active Waiting Is Faith in Motion

Waiting actively means trusting God’s timing while staying faithful to His calling. It’s about working while you wait.

Psalm 128:2 says, “You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.”

That’s a promise worth holding on to. God sees your faithfulness. Every prayer, every act of service, every moment you choose obedience when you could choose comfort—it all matters.

When we wait actively, we participate in God’s plan instead of pausing for it. We show Him that we trust His timing more than our timeline. We move in faith, even when we can’t see the finish line.

Peace in the Waiting

Paul ends his letter with these words in 2 Thessalonians 3:16–18:

“Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.”

Peace and grace—those are the bookends of waiting.

Peace is what keeps our hearts steady when we can’t see what God is doing. Grace is what carries us when we feel too tired to keep doing good. Paul didn’t just want them to wait for Jesus’ return; he wanted them to live like Jesus while they waited—working, trusting, persevering, and resting in His peace.

So while we wait for God’s promises to unfold, He’s forming something deeper inside us. The waiting is the workshop of faith.

Practical Ways to Wait Well

If you’re in a season of waiting right now—here are a few ways to turn waiting into worship:

1. Keep showing up. Keep praying, serving, giving, and believing. You may not see fruit yet, but every seed of obedience counts.
2. Guard your heart from distraction. The enemy loves idle moments. Fill them with worship, prayer, or scripture instead of worry or comparison.
3. Work with purpose. Do what’s in front of you, even if it feels small. God blesses the faithful, not just the famous.
4. Speak faith instead of frustration. Replace “Why is God making me wait?” with “What is God teaching me in the wait?”
5. Rest in His peace. Paul prayed that the Lord of peace would give peace “at all times and in every way.” That includes this time and this way.

When Waiting Feels Hard

There will be moments when waiting feels unbearable. When the delay feels like denial, and hope seems distant. But don’t mistake God’s silence for His absence. The God who made time isn’t late—He’s intentional.

Every moment of waiting is an invitation to trust Him deeper. To believe that even when we can’t see His hand, His heart is for us.

Galatians 6:9 says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

That “proper time” might not look like your timeline, but it will always be right on God’s. Keep going. Keep trusting. Keep working.

Waiting is not passive. It’s a powerful act of faith.

Closing Encouragement

The Lord of peace Himself is with you in the waiting. He hasn’t forgotten the promise, and He hasn’t forgotten you.

When life slows down, when prayers feel unanswered, when nothing seems to move—don’t stop doing what’s good. Don’t stop trusting. Don’t stop believing.

Because when you work while you wait, God works in ways you can’t see. And one day, you’ll look back and realize the waiting was the place where your faith grew strongest.

So keep moving. Keep praying. Keep building.

Your waiting is not wasted—it’s where God is preparing the next miracle.