Waiting

Have you ever noticed how waiting feels different when you know its purpose?

I discovered this truth standing at my stove one afternoon, stirring pasta sauce and listening to my friend share about her incredible workday. She had the job I thought I wanted – the one I'd been praying about, dreaming about, the one that felt like my next right step.

Meanwhile, I was caught in what felt like an endless loop of domestic routines, wondering if I was missing my calling entirely.

But here's what I've learned about waiting: it's not about the pause – it's about the preparation.

In my work with Catholic entrepreneurs and business leaders, I've noticed a pattern. We often mistake God's "not yet" for His "no." We see waiting as a closed door rather than what it really is: a divine invitation to deeper preparation.

Let me share something personal.

During my own season of waiting, I made a humbling discovery. That dream job I thought God was withholding? I didn't have the qualifications for it. Not even close. What I interpreted as divine resistance was actually divine protection – keeping me from stepping into something that would have ended in failure and disillusionment.

This revelation shifted everything.

Instead of seeing waiting as a passive state, I began to recognize it as an active season of formation. It's in these apparent pauses that God often does His most transformative work.

Think about it: Every significant figure in Scripture went through a waiting season. Moses had his desert years. David had his shepherd fields. Even Jesus had His hidden years in Nazareth. These weren't empty times – they were essential preparation for what was to come.

But here's where it gets interesting: waiting looks different when you're an entrepreneur, a business owner, or a professional trying to discern your next move. The stakes feel higher. The pressure to act, to move, to produce can be overwhelming.

I see this especially in my coaching practice. Clients often come to me frustrated with what they perceive as divine delay. They're ready to launch, to expand, to transition – and God seems to be saying "wait."

What they're really asking is: "How do I trust God's timing when everything in my business world says 'now'?"

The answer lies in understanding that God's timing isn't about readiness – it's about alignment.

I learned this firsthand when I was convinced I needed to collaborate with a particular Catholic influencer. I invested time, money, and hope into making that connection happen. Every attempt fell flat. I was devastated – until I met the keynote speaker at the event, who became not just a colleague but a spiritual sister. God's "no" to my planned collaboration was actually His "yes" to something far better.

This is what I call the hidden purpose principle. Every wait has a purpose, even if we can't see it yet.

So how do we wait well, especially when the stakes feel high?

First, recognize that waiting isn't passive. It's an active season of preparation and alignment. Use this time to:

• Deepen your spiritual foundation
• Develop necessary skills
• Build relationships that will matter later
• Refine your vision

Second, understand that God's timing often protects us from premature exposure.

Sometimes we're asking God to open doors that we're not yet equipped to walk through.

Finally, remember that waiting isn't about delay – it's about development. Every season of waiting is actually a season of becoming.

For the entrepreneurs reading this: Your business vision might be right, but the timing might need to mature. For the ministry leaders: Your calling is secure, but your character might need strengthening. For the professionals seeking transition: Your next step is coming, but your preparation might need completing.

What looks like a waiting room to us might actually be God's preparation room.

Looking back now, I see those days at the stove differently. They weren't just about making meals – they were about making me. God was developing patience, resilience, and wisdom that would later become essential to my work with others.

So if you're in a waiting season right now, ask yourself: What if this pause isn't a punishment but a preparation? What if God is aligning circumstances, preparing opportunities, and developing your capacity for what's next?

Because sometimes the most significant growth happens in the seasons that feel the most still.

And friend? That's not just encouragement – that's truth you can build on.