Waiting is one of the hardest seasons God calls us into — because waiting often feels like nothing is happening. You prayed, you worked, you believed, you kept showing up, and yet the doors stayed shut. But Elder David Totten reminds us through the life of Caleb in Joshua 14:6–14 that waiting is not wasted. It is the process where God strengthens us, shapes us, and positions us to receive the promise at the right time.
Caleb was 40 years old when Moses promised him an inheritance for following God wholeheartedly, yet he had to wait 45 years before stepping into it. At 85 years old, Caleb declared with bold faith, “Give me this mountain!” His testimony proves that waiting doesn’t weaken us — it preserves us for the very moment when God’s promise comes due.
Key Points for Listeners:
1. Waiting Is Not Wasted
- Waiting is not idleness, laziness, or punishment. It’s active faith.
- Isaiah 40:31 – Waiting renews strength, it doesn’t deplete it.
- Like a seed in the soil, unseen growth is happening in your waiting season.
2. Lessons from the Seed
- Hidden Work (Mark 4:26–29): God works where eyes can’t see.
- Covering (Psalm 92:13): God protects you until it’s your time.
- Food Inside (Matt. 4:4): God’s Word sustains you when nothing else can.
- Embryo (Jer. 1:5): Your purpose is already planted inside you.
- Breaking Open (John 12:24): Sometimes waiting feels like loss, but it leads to new life.
- Soil’s Job (Gal. 6:9): Growth can’t be rushed; our job is to trust and not faint.
- Harvest (Isa. 55:10–11): What God plants will come to pass.
3. Caleb as an Example of Faithful Waiting
- From the Tribe of Judah (Num. 13:6): Rooted in praise. Surround yourself with the right tribe.
- Not the Likely Pick (Josh. 14:6): Caleb was a Kenizzite, yet chosen. God uses the unexpected.
- A Different Spirit (Num. 14:24): Caleb saw victory where others saw giants.
- Surviving the Wilderness: Sometimes waiting has nothing to do with your mistake—it’s about God’s timing.
- Still Strong at 85 (Josh. 14:11): Waiting preserved Caleb’s strength.
- The Bold Request (Josh. 14:12): Caleb asked for the mountain with giants, trusting God for victory.
Takeaway:
Waiting is not a sign of God’s absence—it’s proof of His preparation. Just like Caleb, your waiting season is preparing you for your winning season. The promise is still yours, no matter how much time has passed. But when your moment comes, don’t shrink back—rise up in faith and declare, “Lord, give me my mountain!”
👉 Reflection Questions for Listeners:
- How am I viewing my waiting season—wasted time or preparation?
- Am I surrounding myself with the right “tribe” that encourages faith?
- What seed has God planted in me that is being prepared in the unseen?
- Am I ready to boldly ask God for the mountain He promised me?
