The Dangers of the Religious Waiting Mindset By James Love

 The Dangers of the Religious Waiting Mindset

Why “Waiting on the Lord” Can Sometimes Be a Spiritual Trap

By James Love

Earlier this week, I opened up to my best friend about a mindset I had slowly adopted over time—what I now call the “religious waiting game.” It’s a mindset rooted in faith but twisted over time into something passive, uncertain, and even paralyzing.

For years, I conditioned myself to wait on the blessing, wait on the promotion, wait on the Lord, and wait for a sign. From sermons to scriptures, I found language to reinforce the idea that waiting is the holiest thing I could do. But now, I’m beginning to question that deeply.

When Faith Turns into Fear

I realized something uncomfortable:

I’m still waiting.

• Waiting for a miracle.
  
  
• Waiting for the Antichrist.
  
  
• Waiting for Jesus to return.
  
  
• Waiting for God to confirm whether this relationship, this move, this job, or this house is “His will.”
  
  

At some point, waiting became a replacement for living.

Even worse, I stopped trusting myself—my gut, my judgment, my wisdom—because I believed that acting before God “spoke” could mean disobedience.

“But I like this person.”

Wait!

“But they hurt me.”

Wait! Maybe there’s still a blessing in it.

This kind of spiritual indecision can drain the joy out of life. It can leave you emotionally paralyzed and stuck in a cycle of hyper-spiritual analysis that masquerades as faith.

Using Scripture as Justification

One of the most dangerous aspects of this waiting game is how easily we use scripture to justify our inaction. Phrases like:

• “Be still and know…”
  
  
• “Wait on the Lord…”
  
  
• “Lean not on your own understanding…”
  
  

While powerful in the right context, these scriptures can become spiritual crutches when taken to unhealthy extremes. They can validate fear-based hesitation rather than encourage bold, faithful living.

The Shift Toward Trust and Action

True faith doesn’t always mean standing still—it can mean stepping out without all the answers. It means trusting that God is with you in your decisions, not just waiting for you to ask permission for every step.

What I’ve learned is this:

The “waiting” mindset is only holy when it’s paired with growth, discernment, and preparation. But when waiting becomes avoidance, it becomes a cage.

Key Takeaways:

• Over-spiritualized waiting can become emotional and psychological paralysis.
  
  
• Using scripture out of context may justify fear, not faith.
  
  
• Trusting God also means trusting that He gave you wisdom, agency, and discernment.
  
  
• Waiting should serve a purpose—if it’s endless, it might be a trap.
  
  

Bold decisions and aligned actions can also be acts of faith.