Waiting On God
Acts 1:12–26
Pastor Philip Miller
Waiting can be one of the most difficult challenges in life, especially when it feels uncertain or open-ended. Yet, Scripture shows us that God often uses seasons of waiting to prepare His people for greater purposes. In Acts 1:12–26, the disciples model what it looks like to wait well. Their example reveals that waiting on God is not passive but active, intentional, and formative.
Five Proactive Responses for Seasons of Waiting:
1. Obey What God’s Revealed
The disciples returned to Jerusalem and waited, just as Jesus instructed. Even though they didn’t know how long the wait would be, they followed His clear command. In our own seasons of waiting, obedience to what God has already revealed is the first step in active trust.
2. Gather with God’s People
Rather than isolating, the disciples waited together in unity—with the women, Mary, and Jesus’ brothers. They chose community because they needed one another. Seasons of waiting call for deeper connection with the body of Christ, where we find encouragement, strength, and joy.
3. Pray with God’s Children
While waiting, the disciples devoted themselves to prayer—fervent, committed, and collective. They acknowledged their need for God’s empowering grace. In times of waiting, prayer aligns our hearts with God’s and deepens our dependence on Him.
4. Search out God’s Word
Peter searched the Scriptures to understand Judas’ betrayal and to guide the next step. God’s Word grounded them in truth and purpose. In disorienting seasons, Scripture reminds us that God is sovereign and that His redemptive plan is still unfolding.
5. Trust for God’s Leading
When it came time to replace Judas, the disciples prayed and entrusted the decision to God, casting lots with full confidence in His sovereignty. Though we no longer cast lots, we are still called to trust the Lord’s leadership rather than rushing ahead or falling behind.
Takeaway: “Be still, and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10
Waiting on God is both difficult and transformative. It’s in the stillness that we learn to trust, obey, and grow. Rather than resisting the waiting, lean into it—knowing that God is working even in the silence and preparing you for what’s next.
