Waiting can feel uncomfortable, especially when you know you are called, but nothing seems to be moving. When the desire and faith are present, but there is no sign of the fruit, it can be frustrating. If that sounds like you, then you are in good company. I have been there too.

After I felt the call to write in 2018, I assumed it would all come easily. I thought I’d sit down, write, and before long have a polished manuscript that publishers couldn’t wait to read. But that wasn’t even close to reality.

Instead, I spent years staring at a blank screen, stuck in a cycle of frustration and writer’s block. I had a story and a deep sense of calling, but the words wouldn’t come. I was discouraged and exhausted, and if I’m being honest, I was frustrated with God. I couldn’t understand why He would call me to write and then withhold the ability to produce. The whole thing seemed cruel and unfair. That is when I came across the below quote – suddenly, everything became clear.

“Any ministry, book, or project desiring lasting Kingdom impact must incubate in the presence of God. Be still longer and get to know Him deeper. Your devotion is the first harvest.” – Author Unknown

We live in a world that celebrates hustle, productivity, and results. We have become accustomed to checking the box and moving on to the next project. Waiting feels inefficient, almost irresponsible, and yet God operates in a different tempo. He is not worried about timelines; He is more interested in lasting fruit than rushed outcomes.

To incubate in the presence of God is to linger with Him. To listen instead of striving. To learn instead of forcing. While the dream is being formed, so are we. Our faith deepens. Our trust strengthens. Our character is refined. And often, the work God is doing in us matters more than the work He wants to produce through us.

That debilitating season of writer’s block was not a cruel joke or a missed opportunity. I could not rush the words because I was still living the story. What I didn’t understand at the time was that His plan was not just about me producing a book – it was about Him delivering a message to all who would read it, including me. That kind of excellence takes time.

So if you’re waiting on a dream, healing, restoration, clarity, or project completion, do not despise the stillness and do not be tempted to rush the process. Let it, and your spirit, incubate in the presence of the Lord. Be still and let God work. Your devotion is never wasted.

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This post continues the story behind Break Down Better: 52 Restoring Devotionals for Burned-Out Women. It’s the third in a short series tracing my journey from dream to publication. If you would like to start at the beginning, you can read the first two posts by clicking below.

If I Only Imagine – Discover how God used a simple child’s note to reignite a dream and inspire the writing of Break Down Better: 52 Restoring Devotionals for Burned-Out Women. Learn to imagine boldly with God and trust His promises.

Make it Public – Learn why it’s essential to write down God-given dreams. Learn how recording your vision brings clarity, preserves God’s message, and prepares it to bless others.

Break Down Better: 52 Restoring Devotionals for Burned-Out Women is available NOW for pre-order at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, and wherever books are sold online.

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