Waiting on God: Why Trusting His Plan Changes Everything

Hosted by Ellen Krause

What Waiting on God Really Looks Like

Sometimes, waiting on God can feel like standing still in the middle of a storm—unsure of where you are, how long you’re there for, and how this can possibly help you get to where you want to go. But waiting isn’t wasted time.

In this deeply personal and hope-filled conversation, singer-songwriter Jaime Jamgochian opens up about what it has meant to wait on God through illness, disappointment, and unexpected detours—and how surrender has led her to the deepest peace she’s ever known.

Want even more of this conversation? Bonus content is posted every week on the Coffee and Bible Time Community!

Jaime’s Journey: From Jazz Clubs to Worship

Waiting and surrender go hand in hand—and Jaime’s first test came in college.

While studying music at Berkeley, one of Jaime’s classmates introduced her to Jesus, and she found herself going from singing jazz in bars and cruise lines to surrendering her dreams to follow God’s calling instead.

Rather than continuing an already-successful career and finishing plans to go to LA and New York, God asked Jaime to move to Seattle and accept a two-year Bible internship at a church. She said yes.

While there, the young musician experienced worship for the first time, and her life was changed.

“I surrendered everything. [Moving to Seattle] was my first true test of surrender.”

Jaime Jamgochian

Surrender in Sickness

In 2019, Jaime’s life seemed perfect. She was a church planter, a pastor, and traveling to sing—but something didn’t feel right. Finally, Jaime was diagnosed with late-stage neurological Lyme disease.

The illness led to an overturning of life as Jaime knew it. The illness forced her to sell her condo in Nashville and move back in with her parents, where doctors told her that her sickness was incurable.

Healing came eventually, but in that season, the Lord invited Jaime to a season of what she calls “holy suffering.”

“It was hard to get my head off the pillow, but I found this sweet spot of joy and surrender that He’s enough. And if nothing else ever happened, the cross of Jesus is enough. If I never sing another note, play the piano again, which is my favorite thing to do, God, you’re enough. And that was a great test of surrender.”

Jaime Jamgochian

1. Start each day surrendered
   Pray, “God, I trust You with the things I can’t control today. Help me walk in Your timing.”
2. Check your heart posture
   Ask: Am I resting in God’s promises—or striving to make things happen myself?
3. Pray this simple heart-check
   “Lord, am I jumping ahead, lagging behind, or walking right in step with You?”
4. Invite trusted voices to speak in
   Ask a mentor or friend, “How do you think I’m doing in this season of waiting?”
5. Fill up your spiritual and emotional tank
   Take a walk at sunset, cook a life-giving meal with friends, or spend time in worship—whatever helps you reconnect with God and yourself.
6. Notice when you’re “not waiting well”
   Complaining, discontentment, or attempts to manipulate God with good behavior are all red flags. Don’t ignore them—bring them to the Lord.
7. Trust that His timing is better than your Plan A
   God sees the full picture. Even when the waiting feels endless, He’s still writing something better than you imagined.

Pruning Seasons: God’s Preparation

God often uses pruning — the removal of what’s dead or unfruitful — to prepare us for what’s next.

Waiting on God often feels like loss (of opportunities, of experiences, of dreams), but it’s actually growth.

The Christian life begins with surrender: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me (Galatians 2:20).” As we walk with Him, God lovingly highlights areas that need refining—not to punish us, but to shape us more into His image.

“If you are being humbled in a particular area, do not resist it but rather lean even further into the ways that God is shaping you through that challenging time. Our roots are forced to grow deeper when things are being shaken up on the surface.”

Sacred Surrender

Pruning often comes through trials, not mountaintop moments. These hidden seasons, where we feel stretched, humbled, or unseen, are often where God does His deepest work. Jaime encourages us not to resist the pruning, but to embrace it as preparation—God making us ready for what’s next.

1. Remember who lives in you
   Ground yourself daily in the truth: Christ lives in me. I’m not doing this alone.
2. Stop resisting correction
   When the Holy Spirit highlights somewhere where you are rough around the edges, don’t push back. Receive it as love.
3. Recognize pruning usually happens in valleys, not victories
   Don’t mistake hidden or hard seasons for abandonment. That’s often where God is most active.
4. Let pruning lead you to intimacy
   Lean in closer to God when things feel hard. These are the moments that deepen your roots.
5. Trust pruning as preparation
   That uncomfortable season may be the groundwork for the next door God will open in your life.

Daily Surrender: Living Fully While Waiting on God

In the final section, Jamie leaves listeners with a powerful question: Are you truly surrendered to God’s purpose for your life?

As believers navigating uncertain times, Jaime reminds us that now more than ever, we need to be fully surrendered to God’s purpose for our lives. It’s easy to drift into comfort and routine, but true surrender means living each day with open hands—inviting God to lead, reshape, and use us however He chooses.

Whether you’re raising kids, working a job, or leading in ministry, the question is the same:
Are you fully surrendered—or are you coasting?

Every calling matters, and God is looking for people who will live with purpose and passion in whatever sphere He’s placed them.

Resources

Jessica’s recommendations:

NLT Bible

Abide App