When God Puts You on Hold
"Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!" - Psalm 27:14
Is there anything more frustrating than being put on hold? Whether you’re dealing with a customer service agent or trying to get through to a bank teller, those words—"please hold"—can get under your skin. You’re looking for a solution, and the last thing you need is for someone to pause your plans. Waiting can test your patience and even make you question whether what you’re waiting for is really worth it.
It’s one thing when you’re put on hold in life’s daily tasks, but what about when it feels like God Himself has put you on hold? You’ve been praying, asking, and seeking Him to open doors, provide answers, or deliver a breakthrough. And yet, it feels like you’re just waiting—waiting for the situation to change, waiting for healing, waiting for peace. The longer you wait, the more tempting it becomes to hang up, to give up on the very thing you’ve been praying for.
In his book “When God Puts You on Hold”, Bill Austin poses a powerful question: What do you do when God puts your prayers on hold? He points out that this waiting period can stir up something he calls "interim anxiety," that uncomfortable tension between your current struggle and the future promise of what’s to come. It's that in-between time where you’re stuck waiting for God to move, and it feels like everything is just...paused.
Maybe you’re there right now. You’ve been waiting so long for a change that you’re on the verge of giving up, on a dream, a relationship, or even on God’s ability to come through. But here’s the encouragement for you today: Don’t hang up. Austin’s reminder is powerful. Whatever you’re waiting for, keep holding on. God’s timing may not look like ours, but His delays are never without purpose.
When you’re in that season of waiting, know that God sees you, hears you, and is working behind the scenes. Just because you’re on hold doesn’t mean the line is disconnected. Keep trusting, keep praying, and keep believing that what you’re waiting for is still on its way. Don’t hang up, God is working, even in the waiting.
Is there anything more frustrating than being put on hold? Whether you’re dealing with a customer service agent or trying to get through to a bank teller, those words—"please hold"—can get under your skin. You’re looking for a solution, and the last thing you need is for someone to pause your plans. Waiting can test your patience and even make you question whether what you’re waiting for is really worth it.
It’s one thing when you’re put on hold in life’s daily tasks, but what about when it feels like God Himself has put you on hold? You’ve been praying, asking, and seeking Him to open doors, provide answers, or deliver a breakthrough. And yet, it feels like you’re just waiting—waiting for the situation to change, waiting for healing, waiting for peace. The longer you wait, the more tempting it becomes to hang up, to give up on the very thing you’ve been praying for.
In his book “When God Puts You on Hold”, Bill Austin poses a powerful question: What do you do when God puts your prayers on hold? He points out that this waiting period can stir up something he calls "interim anxiety," that uncomfortable tension between your current struggle and the future promise of what’s to come. It's that in-between time where you’re stuck waiting for God to move, and it feels like everything is just...paused.
Maybe you’re there right now. You’ve been waiting so long for a change that you’re on the verge of giving up, on a dream, a relationship, or even on God’s ability to come through. But here’s the encouragement for you today: Don’t hang up. Austin’s reminder is powerful. Whatever you’re waiting for, keep holding on. God’s timing may not look like ours, but His delays are never without purpose.
When you’re in that season of waiting, know that God sees you, hears you, and is working behind the scenes. Just because you’re on hold doesn’t mean the line is disconnected. Keep trusting, keep praying, and keep believing that what you’re waiting for is still on its way. Don’t hang up, God is working, even in the waiting.
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