Redeeming a Dad’s Downtime

A Faith-Filled View of “Hurry Up and Wait”

If you’re a dad, you already have a Ph.D. in waiting. First came nine months of anticipation (or many more if adoption was your path), and now your days are full of school-bus schedules, doctor lobbies, slow-motion shoe-tying, and the longest five minutes that ever existed: “Dad, I just need to run back inside for one thing.”

God could have wired family life for maximum efficiency, but He wove delays into the design—perhaps because patience is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) that ripens slowly. Waiting isn’t wasted time; it’s training ground where dads model trust, perseverance, and unconditional availability.

Waiting as Worship

Commitment on Display – Every minute you sit in the bleachers or the pick-up lane shouts, “You are worth my time.” Kids hear that sermon louder than any words you speak.

Prayer Habits That Grow with Them – Idle pockets are perfect for silent intercession: protection on the field, courage in the classroom, wisdom with friends. As they gain independence, your prayers travel farther than you ever could.

Conversation Gold Mine – Pickup rides are prime space for open-ended questions:
“Where did you see God’s kindness today?”
“What felt hard, and how can I help?”
Your willingness to listen builds trust long before curfews and dating talks arrive.

Practical Ideas for Redeeming Downtime

• School car line: Play a short audio Bible passage before the bell; when your child hops in, share one quick takeaway together.
• Sidelines at practice: Jot a note of affirmation to hand your child afterward; it keeps the focus on character over performance.
• Doctor’s lobby: Memorize a verse together with a Bible-memory app; it shifts nerves toward spiritual focus.
• Late-night curfew watch: Keep the porch light on and your heart in prayer, thanking God for growth moments and safe returns.

Embracing Their Independence

Kindergarten drop-offs become college move-ins in a blink. Waiting equips you for the holy tension of letting go while staying connected. Use reflective moments to ask, “Have I equipped her to lean on Jesus? Do I trust God more than my schedule?” The more you practice surrender in small waits, the more peace you’ll have in the big ones.

Trust That Your Presence Echoes

One day you’ll be waiting for holiday visits instead of car-line pickups. If your kids know Dad is steadfast—always praying, always cheering—they will call, text, and come home, not out of obligation but out of love. That legacy starts with today’s choice to treat waiting as worship.

“We want them to know we’re there for them—anytime, for anything, at every stage.”

Hang in there, Dad. Whether the ride feels wild or monotonous, patience lived in God’s strength is never pointless; it’s kingdom work.