Brewed Expectancy: Patience in the Process

The Real Tea: God's Timing is Always Right

We've all been there—stuck in a season where waiting feels like suffering. Maybe it's waiting for a job breakthrough, a relationship to be restored, or healing to manifest. In Romans 8:18, Paul reassures us that the glory God has for us far outweighs the suffering we endure. But if we’re honest, when we’re in the middle of waiting, it doesn’t always feel that way.

Let’s imagine an hourglass—a simple tool that visually represents the passage of time. When flipped, the sand moves from the top to the bottom, marking the process of waiting. Now, picture this: what if, through God’s anointing, the moment the last grain of sand dropped, He doubled or even sevenfold increased the amount of sand? That’s the kind of overflow blessing God has for you when the suffering ends! Abbie Gamboa sings in her song On time God, "On time God, you love the impossible...you love doing miracles.". 

But in order to obtain this increase, we must wait with expectancy. This brings us to a key question: if everyone is waiting, how should our waiting look different?

Waiting is Universal—But Our Response Must Be Different

Waiting isn’t just a believer’s struggle—everyone waits. In Romans 8:19, we see that all of creation is waiting for God’s fulfillment. That means both believers and unbelievers experience seasons of waiting. However, the manifestation of our wait should look different if we are in Christ.

In Romans 8:20, 23, and 25, Paul teaches us how we should wait:
✔️ While unbelievers groan in despair, our groaning must be filled with hope. Abbie says, our hope is "knowing". Knowing that he always shows up and that he is not finished with us yet. 
✔️ While the world loses patience, we must wait with endurance. Remember, Abbie sings her song multiple times, "you always show up.".
✔️ While some question if God will come through, we stand in Godfidence—a bold trust in His perfect timing. 

But let’s be real—sometimes waiting feels unfair. Imagine someone watching a foe prosper. A molester living freely with no consequence. An ex-spouse who has moved on, remarried, and started a new family while you’re still navigating loneliness and disappointment.

Person A says: "This isn’t fair. I did the right thing, but I’m the one suffering while they’re flourishing. Maybe God has forgotten me."

Person B says: "I don’t understand this season, but I trust that God is working all things together for my good (Romans 8:28). Their prosperity is not my portion. My blessing is on the way."

Abbie says, "You're not finished with me yet, 

Which response will bring peace in the pause, and which will bring pain in the predicament? The words we speak determine whether we experience despair or expectancy.

Activate the Holy Spirit—Call It As Though It Is

In Romans 8:24, Paul reminds us that though we will groan, our groaning must look different. We have the Holy Spirit. That means when discouragement creeps in, we activate the Spirit inside of us.

✔️ Instead of saying, "I’ll never get ahead," say, "My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory" (Philippians 4:19).
✔️ Instead of saying, "I’ll always be alone," say, "God sets the lonely in families" (Psalm 68:6).
✔️ Instead of saying, "I can’t do this anymore," say, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"(Philippians 4:13).

Abbie Gamboa's lyrics in On Time God are a perfect example of activating the Holy Spirit. in her song she sings: 

I see it all now (I see it all now). How Your hand was always working. Even in doubt, You were faithful, never failing. Even when I thought the darkness won, You showed up. On time God, You love the impossible. On time God, You love doing miracles. 

The power of life and death is in the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). We determine whether we will experience restoration in the waiting or bitterness in the suffering. The waiting season is where we must call things that are not as though they are (Romans 4:17). Make a choice today, are you going to experience peace in the pause or are you going to experience pain in your predicament. 

We all need to find a way to connect with God in a way that works for us. If you're a social media scroller, make sure you’re following sites that post affirmations—and then read them aloud as you find them. If you’re a music lover like me, create a playlist of your favorite gospel songs and then sing your heart out. If you’re a Bible scholar who loves committing scripture to memory, memorize verses that speak life over your circumstances. God's Promises by Thomas Nelson is an excellent resource for this!

However you choose to do it, activate the Holy Spirit when hope seems to be fading. He will meet you where you are—I pinky promise.

The Real Tea (Truths to Remember)

1. Suffering is temporary, but God’s glory is eternal. (Romans 8:18)

2. Waiting is universal, but believers wait differently—with hope, patience, and Godfidence. (Romans 8:19-25)

3. Groaning is inevitable, but our groaning must be filled with expectation, not despair. (Romans 8:23-25)

4. We can speak life into our waiting season by calling things that are not as though they are. (Romans 4:17, Proverbs 18:21)

5. We choose peace in the pause or pain in the predicament. Our words shape our waiting.

Closing Prayer

Father, we thank You that You are an on-time God. Even when our hearts grow weary in the wait, You are never late. We stand on the truth of Romans 8:18, knowing that the suffering of this present moment is nothing compared to the glory that You have in store for us. We decree and declare that our waiting will not be marked by frustration, but by faith.

We bind the groans of despair, frustration, and hopelessness, and we loose faith-filled affirmations, activated by the Holy Spirit—affirmations of trust, expectancy, and confidence in Your perfect will. We choose to wait with Godfidence, believing that You are working all things together for our good (Romans 8:28), even when we don’t see it yet.

We trust You still, God. We trust You when the waiting is long. We trust You when it feels like everyone else is being blessed while we are left in the shadows. We trust You when we don’t understand. We bind discouragement, disappointment, and envy that creep in when we see others prospering while we are still praying. Instead, we loose patience, gratitude, and an unwavering assurance that You have not forgotten us.

We stand on Your Word because You are not a man that You should lie (Numbers 23:19). Every promise You have spoken will come to pass in Your perfect timing. We decree that we will not be anxious in the waiting, but instead, we will call things that are not as though they are (Romans 4:17).

We declare:
✔️ Our breakthrough is coming.
✔️ Our restoration is on the way.
✔️ Our suffering will be exchanged for glory.
✔️ Our words will reflect faith, not fear.
✔️ We will wait with expectancy, knowing that You always come through.

Lord, we declare today that the wait is worth it because what You have for us will far outweigh the suffering we have endured. We will not lose hope. We will not lose faith. We will wait well, with patience and perseverance, trusting that in Your perfect time, we will see the fullness of Your yes and amen (2 Corinthians 1:20).

In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.