How Do I Trust God in Seasons of Waiting in Recovery?

You know that moment when you’re praying your heart out, journaling your feelings, listening to all the faith-filled podcasts, and doing all the right things... but it still feels like nothing’s changing? Like you’re stuck in a holding pattern, waiting for your healing to finally show up with a big neon sign that says, “You’ve arrived!”

If you’re in that season of waiting in your recovery journey—whether it’s from disordered eating, body image struggles, or just learning how to stop fighting with food every single day—I want you to know: you’re not alone.

Waiting seasons are hard. Like, rip-your-hair-out, throw-your-scale-across-the-room, cry-in-the-pantry kind of hard. But these seasons? They’re not wasted.

Let’s talk about what it really means to trust God in those middle moments. The “not yet” spaces. The “what even is happening?” chapters. And how, even when it doesn’t feel like it, God is totally in the middle of it all.

Why Is Recovery Taking So Long?

Let’s get real for a second: if you’ve ever thought, “Shouldn’t I be further along by now?” Welcome to the club.

This is one of the most common questions I get from women in recovery. And honestly, I’ve asked it myself more than a few (dozen) times. We live in an instant-everything world—next-day shipping, same-day grocery delivery, and TikToks that teach you how to declutter your kitchen in 90 seconds. So of course, we expect our healing to be quick, too.

But God is not Amazon Prime.

He’s not working on our timeline. He’s working on an eternity's timeline. And sometimes, the healing we’re asking for doesn’t come with fireworks and confetti. It comes in the quiet, tiny, faithful steps you take every single day.

What Does Trusting God Really Look Like?

Okay, so you know you’re supposed to “trust God.” But what does that actually mean when your brain won’t shut up about how many calories you ate or whether you “should” go work out (again)?

Trusting God in recovery looks a lot less like spiritual perfection and a lot more like messy obedience.

• It’s choosing to eat a meal even when the food guilt is loud.
• It’s saying no to body checking when that mirror is calling your name.
• It’s letting your jeans fit how they fit and remembering your worth isn’t hanging in your closet.
• It’s praying even when you feel like God’s silent.

Faith isn’t about faking peace. It’s about clinging to hope when peace feels a million miles away.

"Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." — Hebrews 11:1

God Is Not Disappointed In You (I Promise)

Quick gut-check: have you ever felt like you’re letting God down because your recovery isn’t going faster?

Whew. Been there. 🙋🏻‍♀️

Let me say this as clearly as I can: God is not disappointed in your pace. He’s not measuring your worth by your progress chart. He’s not waiting for you to "get it together" before He’ll love you more.

Your healing is not a prerequisite for His love. His love is the catalyst for your healing.

The Power of Surrender (Even When It Feels Scary)

Let’s talk about surrender. It’s not exactly the word we get excited about, right? Surrender sounds a lot like giving up.

But in recovery, surrender isn’t waving the white flag of defeat. It’s handing the pen back to the Author of your story.

I’ve had so many clients say things like, “But if I stop trying to control my food or body, what happens? What if I spiral?”

Sis, I hear you. And no, surrender doesn’t mean neglect. It means trusting the One who made your body to teach you how to care for it with compassion, not control.

Scripture for When You’re Stuck in the Waiting Room

Need some Truth to hold onto when your mind is spinning? Try meditating on these verses:

• Isaiah 40:31 – "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength..."
• Romans 8:25 – "But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."
• Joel 2:25 – "I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten..."

Print one out. Stick it on your bathroom mirror. Screenshot it as your phone lock screen. Let God’s promises be louder than your inner critic.

The Comparison Trap in Recovery

Can we talk about how easy it is to get stuck comparing your healing timeline to someone else’s?

Maybe you see a friend who's further along. Or you hear someone say they're “fully recovered” and you wonder why it hasn’t clicked for you yet.

Their chapter 10 isn’t your chapter 2!

Recovery isn’t a race. It’s a walk with Jesus—and He doesn’t rush. He meets you step by step, right where you are.

Don’t Fake Hope—Ask for It

If you’re not feeling hopeful right now, that’s okay. You don’t have to manufacture hope like it’s a DIY Pinterest project.

God can handle your doubt. He’s not shocked when you’re discouraged. In fact, He invites you to bring it to Him.

3 Practical Ways to Trust God When You’re Tired of Waiting

1. Practice Present-Moment Faith

Ask yourself: What does trusting God look like for today? Not tomorrow. Not next week. Just today.

Maybe it’s eating a snack without shame. Maybe it’s choosing rest instead of pushing your body past its limits. Maybe it’s texting a friend and asking for prayer.

Small acts of faithfulness still count. Big time.

2. Get Support You Can Rely On

You weren’t meant to do this alone. Find your people—the ones who get it. The ones who will remind you that God’s still working, even when you can’t feel it.

Want to join a community of faith-filled women pursuing food freedom together? [Join our free Facebook group here!]

3. Speak Truth Over Your Feelings

Feelings are real. But they’re not always true.

When you start spiraling, stop and ask: What’s the truth here?

• Truth: I am loved.
• Truth: My body is not a project.
• Truth: God is still writing my story.

Final Word: There Is Redemption in the Waiting

I know waiting feels like THE ACTUAL WORST. But I also know this: God wastes nothing.

That pit you feel stuck in? He’s planting something there.

That ache in your heart? He’s not ignoring it.

One day—yes, even you, even this—you’ll look back and see how God used this waiting room to shape you, strengthen you, and prepare you for more than you ever imagined.

And if you ever forget that? Come back here. Read it again. And let it be your reminder that hope is never off the table.

Until then, friend, may you be filled with joy and abound in hope. 

Ready for Your Next Step?

Listen to the Faith-Filled Food Freedom Podcast. Join the Food Freedom and Body Image Support for Christian Women Facebook Group.

Cheering you on always,

Brittany Braswell, MS, RDN, LD

Food Freedom Dietitian & Body Image Coach

Host of Faith-Filled Food Freedom