We waited because we trusted.
When my kids were young, we lived in Southern California: the land of a thousand theme parks. (OK, maybe not actually a thousand.) My daughter, especially, loved rollercoasters. She was always tall for her age, which meant she could ride all the rides when most kids her age were still limited to the kiddie coasters and carousels.
I remember one particularly hot afternoon when every line felt exceptionally long. “How much longer?” my kids whined, their sweaty bodies draped over the serpentine railings. I glanced at my watch, knowing I had no definite answer—just the certainty that eventually, the wait would end.
We were willing to wait in those long lines that hot afternoon because we believed the ride at the end of the wait would be worth it.
We waited because we trusted.
Waiting Well
Waiting is an inevitable part of life, whether it’s waiting in line for a ride at a theme park or waiting to see God’s promises unfold. The season of Advent is a season of waiting, waiting to celebrate the coming of the promised King on Christmas Day and waiting for that future day when our King will return again. We wait because we trust that the same God who kept His promise on that silent night long ago will keep His promises again, and again.
So, what does it mean to wait well, especially in seasons when the outcome is uncertain? How can we teach our children to see waiting not as wasted time but as an opportunity to trust God and His faithfulness?
Throughout Scripture, we see God’s people experiencing long seasons of waiting. Abraham believed God’s promise to make him the father of many nations, yet he never saw its complete fulfillment in his lifetime (Genesis 12:1–3). Moses led God’s people toward the promised land but never entered it himself (Deuteronomy 34:4–5). And yet, Hebrews 11:13 reminds us, “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance” (NIV).
Their stories remind us that waiting is an act of faith, and that even when we can’t see the front of the line, we still trust God’s character. We still wait.
We can learn a lot about waiting from Zechariah and Elizabeth, who not only waited for Israel’s Messiah but did so through decades of personal disappointment, having been unable themselves to have children.
Their stories remind us that waiting is an act of faith, and that even when we can’t see the front of the line, we still trust God’s character. We still wait.
Luke 1 shows us four things they did while waiting:
- They Did What Was Right in the Sight of the Lord
Despite years of disappointment, Zechariah and Elizabeth remained faithful to God. “Both of them did what was right in the sight of God. They obeyed all the Lord’s commands and rules faithfully” (Luke 1:6 NIrV). Their obedience wasn’t dependent on their circumstances but rooted in their trust in God. - They Continued Serving
Zechariah kept fulfilling his role as a priest. He was serving in the temple when the angel appeared to announce the answer to their prayers (Luke 1:8–13). Waiting well often means continuing in the work God has given us, even when we don’t see results in our hoped-for timing. - They Kept Praying
The angel told Zechariah, “Your prayer has been heard” (Luke 1:13 NIV). Waiting does not equal passivity. Prayer is an act of surrender and trust. When the wait is long and hard, we can continue to pray. - They Gave Credit to God
When Elizabeth became pregnant with John, who would “prepare the way for the Lord,” she declared, “The Lord has done this for me” (Luke 1:17, 25). When the wait is finally over and we see the fulfillment of God’s work and promise in our lives, we too can direct all credit and glory to Him!
Our kids are growing up in a world with same-day grocery delivery and smartphones. Waiting well has never been harder than it is today.
As parents or children’s ministry leaders, there are some practical ways to help kids develop patience and learn to wait well:
- Talk About Waiting
Use daily moments to talk about what waiting feels like. Ask kids if waiting is always bad or if it can be positive. Point out how waiting for something special, like a birthday or holiday, builds anticipation and joy. - Make Waiting Active
Play games like “I Spy” while waiting in line. At restaurants, leave devices at home and bring a card game or coloring book instead. These activities turn times of waiting into opportunities for connection. - Choose to Wait on Purpose
Intentionally choose the longest line at the grocery store and use it as an opportunity to practice patience together. Let your children see you modeling a calm and trusting attitude. - Tie Waiting to Trusting
Teach kids that waiting is a way of trusting God. Explain that when we wait well, we show that we believe God’s timing is best. - Worship in the Waiting
Throughout the Bible, God’s people waited not just with patience but with worship. In the Old Testament, God gave them festivals, like Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles, as reminders to pause, remember God’s faithfulness, and look forward to His promises. So share with your kids openly and often the stories of what God has done in your life!
As we wait this Advent season, let us remember that God is always at work, even when we don’t see it. Let’s allow the stories in Wonder Ink’s Waiting for the King series remind us that when we wait for God’s promises to unfold, we do not wait in vain, for just as the joy of a theme park ride makes the wait worthwhile, the fulfillment of God’s promises will far exceed our expectations.
Every time. So we wait, not with worry but with hope, saying with faith, “Come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20 NIV).
Wonder Ink’s 3-year, 52-week children’s ministry curriculum offers kids space to fully find their place in God’s Big Story. Children discover they are Known by God, Loved by Jesus, and Led by the Holy Spirit.
