Obedience When You Really Want the Answer

The art of waiting:

(Acts 21 & the Art of Waiting… ugh 😅)

For the last couple of months we have dug deep in the book of Acts. This week we were discussing chapter 21 and what a chapter. As I was preparing to come back for our Wednesday Bible study for the Hispanic community at our church, it felt so fitting that this was the theme. You know how that goes—God always finds a way to speak to us very directly and grab our attention. No subtle hints. Just boom, here you go.

In this season I’m in, life has been quite challenging. The funny thing is, the more I step back into the normalcy of life, the cloudier it gets for me to see what’s next. Anyone else? 🙋🏽‍♀️

So I’ve been praying… asking… seeking. And something I’ve finally noticed (even though MANY people had said it to me before and I somehow couldn’t see it lol) is that I was doing too much—but it didn’t feel like it. Isn’t that wild? Being busy can feel holy, productive, even obedient… and still not be what God asked of us.

This time around, I really don’t want to get distracted doing more than what God wants me to do. I want to be intentional in the things I do and do exactly what He wants me to.

Anyway… God has been speaking to me repeatedly about this truth: “The vision will come at the appointed time. In the meantime—wait.”

And I’m like… arghhh hahaha 😩 Because, well… hello, I want to KNOW. I want the plan. The outline. The five-step strategy with bullet points and a confirmation email.

But then comes Acts 21, and wow… this chapter truly shook me up.

SO Why Waiting Matters (Even When You Hate It)

Acts 21 shows us why it’s so important to wait, to seek God Himself—not just the answer. Because once God reveals His will, you become deeply secure in it. Secure enough to:

• Stay the course despite distractions

• Stand firm even when others advise you otherwise

• Obey even when the path looks painful or confusing

That kind of obedience doesn’t come from rushing. It comes from waiting in His presence.

A Little Context (Because Paul Is Not Playing Games)

Paul knew he had to go to Jerusalem. He wasn’t guessing. He wasn’t crowdsourcing opinions. He wasn’t reacting emotionally. He knew—deep down—that this was God’s direction for him.

And here’s the part that gets me: Everyone around him was begging him not to go. Prophecies, tears, well-meaning advice, emotional pleas… all of it. And yet Paul stayed obedient—not because the journey would be easy, but because the instruction was clear.

That’s the kind of clarity I want. Not clarity that removes hardship—but clarity that anchors obedience.

Obedience Isn’t Loud—It’s Rooted

Acts 21 reminds us that obedience doesn’t always look dramatic or celebrated. Sometimes it looks like this:

• Waiting when you want to move

• Saying no when you could say yes

• Trusting God even when others don’t understand your “why”

And let me be honest—waiting is stretching me. It’s uncomfortable. It’s humbling. It’s slowing me down in ways I don’t always like. But it’s also teaching me to seek God, not just outcomes.

So for now, I wait. I pray. I resist the urge to do extra things just to feel productive.

Because when the vision comes—at the appointed time—I want to be so secure in Him that no distraction, opinion, or difficulty can knock me off course.

Even if I still say “arghhh” once in a while. 😅🙏🏽

Remember, waiting is not falling behind; it’s being prepared. Opposition is not always setting you back; it is preparing you and moving you forward. God is working even when you can’t see it. Stay close, stay faithful, and trust that the vision will come at the appointed time.

I challenge you to read chapter 21 and let God speak to you; for more in-depth use, enduring commentary is always helpful.

Prayer:

Lord, help me trust You in the waiting. Quiet my need to rush and teach me to seek You, not just answers. Give me a steady, obedient heart that follows You even when the path is unclear. I trust Your timing and Your plans. Amen.