"Learning to Watch and Wait on God"

by Nohemie Brevil

“I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint.” - Habakkuk 2:1

When I read this verse, I paused and asked myself:
How can I truly stand watch and position myself to hear what the Lord wants to say to me? I love Habakkuk’s story because while he brought raw, honest questions before God—he didn’t stop there. He chose a posture of expectation. He stationed himself and looked to see how God would respond.

Just like Habakkuk, we all wrestle with difficult questions.
Why does God allow certain things to happen?
Why do certain people come into our lives and bring chaos or pain?

But the real question is: Do we regularly position ourselves like a watchman, ready to receive divine insight?
Unlike Habakkuk, do we even expect a response from God?

This verse reminds me that in the busyness and noise of daily life, I need to slow down and make space—space to look, to listen, and to wait for what God wants to say.

One way I actively position my heart to listen to God is through prayer. I’m learning more and more that prayer isn’t just about speaking to God—it’s also about listening. It’s a sacred space where I can watch and wait on the Lord, learning to trust His character.

These two postures—watching and waiting—are both acts of intentional faith, but they express themselves differently:

👀 Watching Is Active Faith

Watching means staying spiritually alert. It’s about looking for God’s hand in both the big and small details. It’s being aware of His presence in Scripture, in prayer, in people, and in the everyday.

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”— Matthew 26:41

Watching keeps us spiritually awake—like a watchman on the city wall: focused, alert, and expectant. “I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in His word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning.”
— Psalm 130:5–6

Watching is paying attention with hope. It’s trusting that even when things are uncertain or dark, God’s promise will still shine through.

⏳ Waiting Is Trusting or Resting Faith

Waiting is about surrender. It’s trusting God’s timing, laying down the need to control outcomes, and resting in the confidence that He is working—even when we can’t see it.

“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.”— Isaiah 40:31

In waiting, we find strength and hope, because we’re doing the most important thing: trusting God to be God.

A Personal Example

One area where I’m learning to watch and wait is in praying for healing from a specific health struggle.

• By watching, I’ve noticed how God shows up in the details.
Through kindness from others, quick access to appointments, supportive medical care, and moments of unexpected encouragement—it feels like God has placed VIP helpers along the way. These reminders show me that I’m not alone. He sees. He cares.

• In the waiting, I’m learning to trust His timing. Healing may come quickly, slowly, or in ways I don’t expect. But I choose to take heart, rest in His care and believe that He is at work, even when the outcome isn’t clear.

“Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.”
— Psalm 27:14

In a Nutshell:

Watching and waiting work together:

• Watching keeps my heart alert.

• Waiting keeps my heart surrendered.

I believe this season of watching and waiting is God’s tool for spiritual and emotional growth.
He’s teaching me to anchor my hope not in outcomes, but in His unchanging character. Because He never stops working, I will continue to watch and wait.

Prayer:

Lord, teach me to be like Habakkuk—
to bring You my honest questions,
but also to take my place on the watchtower.
Help me watch with hope and wait with trust,
knowing that You are faithful.
Even when I don’t see the outcome,
help me rest in Your presence,
because You are always at work.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Action Steps:

Where am I watching?

Write down areas of your life where you are actively alert for God’s guidance or presence.

Where am I waiting?

Identify situations where you feel called to trust God’s timing and surrender control.

One step of faith this week:

Choose one tangible way to practice both watching and waiting—through prayer, journaling, reaching out, or resting in trust.