When God Says Wait — And You Secretly Know Why

When God Says Wait — And You Secretly Know Why

By Khanyisa Manganyi

There’s a kind of ache that comes from unanswered prayers. That quiet, hollow, sometimes very loud ache. You kneel. You fast. You name it and claim it. You anoint the doors, the fridge, the cat. You quote Jeremiah 29:11 until your tongue feels like a worn-out highlighter. But heaven stays politely silent. And you wonder… “Did God forget me?”

But deep down, where the honesty lives — the part of you that doesn’t post online — you kind of know. You're not actually ready for what you're asking for. You just want to be. And that’s different.

See, we like to imagine we’re always prepared. We say things like, “Lord, I’m ready for my husband now,” while our healing is still dripping and we’re secretly stalking our ex’s sister on Instagram. Or we pray, “God, give me that job,” but we’re showing up to life late, bitter, and half-hearted. We want the weight of blessing without the strength of discipline. And God, in all His love, says, “Not yet, my child.” Not out of cruelty — but out of mercy.

Because delay, though it stings, is sometimes divine protection.

God doesn’t do premature deliveries. If He gives it too early, it might destroy you — or worse, you might destroy it. Imagine getting a breakthrough that ends up becoming a breakdown. A relationship you begged for that turns toxic because you still confuse attachment with love. A platform you prayed for that amplifies your immaturity more than your message. No, thank you.

The truth is, preparation feels like punishment when you're impatient.

We don’t like waiting rooms. We want express lanes in faith — 10 prayers or less, please. But God isn't in a hurry. He's not interested in microwave blessings that lack marinated character. He’s working in the unseen, slowly, beautifully, intentionally. And yes, painfully too.

Sometimes, He’s not just preparing the blessing for you, He’s preparing you for the blessing. And while you're crying over the “No” or “Not yet,” heaven is cheering, “She’s getting there. One more lesson. One more layer. She’s almost ready.”

And it’s not that you're a bad person. You’re just a becoming person. Becoming wise enough to handle the truth. Becoming patient enough to carry the weight of your purpose. Becoming humble enough to be trusted with favor. Becoming free enough to love right and lead well. Becoming, not broken.

So no, God didn’t ghost you. He didn’t block your prayers. He didn’t misplace your miracle. He’s just letting the cake bake. Because only half-baked things get pulled out early. And you're not meant to be half-baked. You’re meant to be golden.

So yes, that prayer might still be unanswered — but look closer. Look softer. Can you see it now? It wasn’t punishment. It was kindness. Mercy, wrapped in mystery.

And one day — maybe not today, but one day — you’ll look back and whisper, “Thank You, God… for not giving it to me when I begged. Because now I can carry it without it crushing me.”

That’s the kind of wait worth waiting for.

And I don’t know who needs to hear this, but… the door isn’t closed. It’s just not your turn yet. But ohhh when it is… heaven help everything that stands in your way. Because you’ll be ready — and you’ll know it.

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