Why I Still Trust God When Answers Don’t Come Fast
By Aaron Joseph Hall
Waiting is hard. I know I'm not alone in saying that. There have been nights when I sat by the window, prayers hanging in the air, heart burning with questions. Why is nothing changing? Why does God seem silent? Sometimes, the ache of confusion feels heavier than the original problem. There’s a temptation to lay it all down and walk away. But I keep coming back to trust, even when the answers are slow.
Wrestling with Unanswered Prayers
I've known the weight of prayers that feel like they vanish into thin air. I’ve begged God to heal a loved one, to send help, to open a door when hope seemed gone. There are seasons where every day is marked by quiet, aching questions. In these times, it’s tempting to doubt everything I once believed.
The Emotional Toll of Waiting This Long
Let’s be honest. Waiting does something to the soul. It presses on my hope. Every sunrise brings another reminder that the answer hasn’t come. It’s easy to feel forgotten. I see others receive miracles and wonder why I’m still stuck. God, do You hear me? I keep praying, but the silence stretches.
That silence can feel like judgment. Unspoken, but loud. Thoughts creep in—Maybe I’m not good enough. Maybe God’s angry. These lies plant roots if I let them. I fight them with truth, but the battle is real.
Dealing with Doubt and Spiritual Silence
Sometimes doubt slips in quietly. It shows up when the night is long and my heart is tired. I ask if I’ve wasted all these prayers. I try to remind myself—faith isn’t always noisy. Sometimes faith whispers. Sometimes it’s choosing to get up and pray again when my feelings are numb.
The Psalms are full of this. “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?” (Psalm 13:1). Even faithful men and women in Scripture sat with silence. Their cries, their tears, are proof. I’m not alone in the waiting. Their stories remind me that faith is tested, not destroyed, in silent seasons.
The Temptation to Give Up
More people walk away during waiting seasons than any other time. I understand why. There’s a weariness that feels close to despair. I’ve felt it in the pit of my stomach. I’ve wanted to stop caring, to let prayer dry up like a riverbed after a drought.
But something deep presses me to keep going—to keep trusting. Giving up would be easier, but what would I be left with? Emptiness. No hope. I refuse to surrender to that.
Why I Choose to Trust God Anyway
At some point, I have to decide. Will I trust God's character or my own timeline? The answer never comes easy. But I anchor my soul in truth, not my feelings.
Holding On to What I Know About God
God’s Word, time and again, shows a God who is faithful. Maybe not predictable. Maybe not quick. But faithful. “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.” (Lamentations 3:25). That isn’t just poetry. It’s survival. I cling to it.
I remember what He has already done. Saved me. Forgiven me. Brought me through. Even when I don’t see new miracles, the old ones still count.
Lessons Learned in the Waiting
Waiting isn’t wasted. I’ve learned lessons that only come by walking through the valley. I’ve discovered patience I didn’t have before. I’ve realized how little control I really have, and how much I need God.
Patience grows where answers don’t come easy.
Thankfulness comes when I stop demanding and start noticing.
Empathy deepens when I realize others are waiting too.
Each day of waiting has forced me to depend more on God, not less. The answers may be slow, but growth is sure if I stick to Him.
How Trust Grows Through Uncertainty
Uncertainty is soil where trust can take root. There’s a strange strength that grows out of not knowing. I’ve seen God write better stories from the chapters I tried to skip. God’s silence doesn’t mean absence. Sometimes, silence is where He’s forming me.
I look at Abraham, waiting for a promised son, or Joseph, abandoned in a prison. They endured, they waited, they trusted. And God showed up—just not when or how they first expected.
Trust isn’t pretending the waiting doesn’t hurt. Trust is saying, “God, even if the answer never comes the way I want, You are still good.”
Conclusion
I still trust God, slow answers and all. Each day I wake up, I choose to pray again, even when it hurts. I remind myself of truth. I rehearse what God has done before.
If you’re waiting, you aren’t forgotten. Hold on. The silence won’t last forever. Even if it does, God is still working in ways I don’t see. Find a promise to cling to. Keep praying. Choose trust over despair, again and again.
If I can do it, so can you. Keep your eyes on Christ, not just the clock. Sometimes, trust itself is the biggest answer prayer can bring.
Aaron Joseph Hall is a devoted husband, father of four, pastor, and author. Passionate about writing, Aaron shares insights and inspiration on his blog: AaronJosephHall.com. You can follow him on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and X.
