Wait on the Lord as a Waiter Would Wait on a Table

We’ve all heard the phrase, “Wait on the Lord.” It sounds peaceful, even poetic. But let’s be honest, waiting can be one of the hardest things to do. Especially when your heart is aching for answers, when your dreams feel delayed, or when God seems quiet. Waiting often feels like standing still. Uncertain, restless, maybe even forgotten.

But what if we’ve misunderstood what it means to wait?

What if waiting on the Lord is less about doing nothing… and more about doing the right things with the right heart?

Picture a waiter in a restaurant. Their job is not to sit around and stare into space. They’re constantly watching, listening, moving, checking on guests, refilling drinks, delivering meals, clearing empty plates. They’re present and attentive, even when the table isn’t asking for anything. That’s the kind of posture God calls us to in seasons of waiting.

“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”

Psalm 27:14

Waiting biblically is active, not passive. It’s a heart posture of faith. It means staying close to Jesus, ready to respond, and faithfully serving right where you are, even when your own prayers haven’t been answered yet.

A few examples come to mind as I write. Think of Ruth. She waited for redemption, but in the meantime, she served. She gleaned in the fields. She stayed loyal to Naomi. She remained faithful with little, and God honored her with much. Or David, anointed as king, but sent back to tend sheep. His time in the pasture wasn’t wasted; it was preparation. He served his father, his brothers, even King Saul, before ever sitting on the throne.

“But 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 40:31

Strength is renewed as we wait, not just because we wait. God meets us in the waiting when we choose to worship, work, and walk faithfully in the meantime.

So what does serving look like while you wait?

Pray for others. When you’re believing for healing, pray for someone else’s. When you’re waiting for provision, sow into someone else’s need.

Show up. Serve in your church, volunteer in your community, help a neighbor, encourage a friend. Don’t underestimate the power of small acts of faithfulness.

Use what’s in your hands. Maybe it’s your creativity, your time, or your testimony. God can multiply what you surrender.

Stay rooted in the Word. The Bible isn’t just a lifeline in waiting; it’s the very place where we hear God’s heart and remember His promises.

“The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.”

Lamentations 3:25

Waiting well means seeking Him deeply. It means trusting that He’s working even when you can’t see it. And while you wait, you worship. You serve. You give. You love. You keep showing up. Not out of obligation, but because you know the One you’re waiting on is worthy.

Friend, your waiting is not wasted.

You may feel hidden, but you’re being held. You may feel delayed, but you’re not denied. God sees your quiet service, your poured-out prayers, your faithful steps. And in His perfect time, He will honor it.

So today, don’t wait with worry; wait with worship.

Wait like a servant with eyes fixed on the Master. Wait like a waiter watching for the next opportunity to pour out love, kindness, and hope. Because waiting on the Lord is one of the most beautiful forms of worship; when you choose to serve in the silence, knowing the One you serve is always faithful.