Trusting God Through Uncertainty as a Christian Woman
Waiting on God to show up should be easier by now. But here in midlife, I’m finding that learning how to wait on God and trust Him deeply is part of my ongoing Bible study journey as a Christian woman learning to abide in Christ.
Maybe you’re finding new challenges, too.
Aging parents and their evolving needs. The midlife health changes that come with perimenopause and the like.
The identity crisis of the empty nesting phase or the joy of grandparenting.
Retirement and/or financial insecurity. There are many things we face in this season that call us to trust, hope, and wait on the Lord.
For me, this season of waiting centers around our prodigal son
Waiting on God in Midlife: A Bible Study on Trusting Him
A familiar passage of scripture says:
“Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.” Isaiah 40:31 NASV
I’ve read and heard this passage over the years, but just today, as I was praying for my son, the Lord directed me to think about the meaning behind the illustration of these words.
Those who wait. (biblestudytools.com)
Some translations use the word “hope,” which carries the same meaning: to wait, to look for, to expect.
It’s one thing to wait or to hope, it’s another to do so with expectancy.
Hebrews 11: 1 tells us, “Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.” (CSB)
The kind of hope described in Isaiah 40:31 is the same idea as faith as described in Hebrews 11. Therefore, this kind of waiting is coupled with an expectation of the reality of God’s answer; believing that what is not yet seen will be seen.
To wait on the Lord, then, is to confidently expect and anticipate that He has heard our heart’s prayer and His answer is on the way.
Will gain new strength:
Whatever strength we may think we have, in times of crisis or fear, our strength can seem to fail. But for those who place their hope and expectation on the perfect will and timing of the Lord, though we may feel weak in moments of disappointment or uncertainty, we know where to run to find the strength we need. The Lord is our security and shelter when we are weak.
They will mount up on wings like eagles;
On our family trip to see the Grand Teton Mountains in Wyoming, we had the privilege of touring down Snake River. Our guide pointed out a massive eagle’s nest off to the left side of our raft.
Eagles have been the symbol of strength, freedom, and leadership throughout the centuries. In the context of this verse, we find the eagle one that is resolute and confident; waiting on the right wind to lift them up into the air.
You see, their wings are so broad and heavy that flapping would only wear them out. In order to fly, they are “in a constant state of flux, switching between airstreams, speeds, going downwind and then up again and using opposing forces to gain both speed and momentum.” (source)
Mountains and other obstacles are not a hindrance to their flight capacity either. Air flow tends to move upward, allowing the eagle to move beyond the mountain.
They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary:
The ability to rest and be at peace is a gift for the one who will choose to wait with expectant hope on the Lord.
Just like the eagle, the one who waits for the Lord will spend more time soaring and gliding instead of striving and straining for peace.
What I Want to Do Versus What I Actually Do
But I get it! Waiting for God to answer our prayers, reveal the solutions or to work out the stressful times we face can really challenge our faith.
In my mother’s heart, I want to wail toward heaven, to cry, to allow my mind to go to every worst case scenario I can imagine while waiting on our prodigal son to return to the Father’s heart.
But I’m making a choice- daily and often moment by moment-to trust that the Lord will give me rest and peace in my heart as I wait.
I will not grow tired or weary of asking God to give my son a tender heart toward Him. I will not stop asking God to remove my son’s heart of stone. I will continue to pray in faith that my son is free from all addiction, healed and whole in Jesus Name.
And I will soar.
I will allow God to lift my hope higher and higher, to trust Him for the work He’s called me to. While I wait, I am choosing to not be distracted by what I don’t know, what I can’t fix, and what I cannot do.
But I’m making a choice—daily, and often moment by moment—to trust…
How to Wait on God in Midlife (3 Simple Biblical Practices)
Let me share with you what I’ve learned to do when times of frustration, fear, and waiting come. These are not miracle cures or quick fixes.
hese are practices I’ve developed over time as I’ve learned to abide in Christ, not just in the easy seasons, but especially while waiting on God in uncertain times.
- Remember Who God Is
The first thing I do is to pause in the presence of God. He is always near.
“Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven
above and on the earth below. There is no other.” Deuteronomy 4:30 NIV
- Remember Who You Are
Next, I remind myself that in Christ, I am chosen and loved and I have everything I need. Like the Proverbs 31 woman, we are called to live with strength and dignity, even in seasons of waiting.
“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.” 2 Peter 1:3 NLT
- Remember the Promises of God.
Lastly, I remember that I am not alone and do not have to be afraid.
“ I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” John 4:18 KJV
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you
as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and
do not be afraid.”
John 14:27 NIV
I may feel fear and anxiety creep in when midlife challenges come up, but I don’t have to let those thoughts and feelings control me. I can choose the fruit of the Spirit—especially peace—even while I wait on God and trust His timing.
💙YOUR TURN:
What area of your life is God currently asking you to trust Him more deeply?
What would it look like for you to wait on God with expectant hope instead of fear?
Which of the three practices (remembering who God is, who you are, or His promises) do you need most today?
Friend, if this encouraged your heart today, I’d love to hear from you.
What are you trusting God for in this season? Share in the comments—I read every one and pray for you.
And if you’d like more Bible teaching and encouragement for this season of life, come join me on YouTube, where I share simple, faith-filled ways to abide in Christ and grow in the fruit of the Spirit.
