The Lethal Dangers of Pride & Waiting

Waiting is as lethal as a venomous snake bite, whether you’re waiting to enter recovery or waiting to do something God would have you do in life itself. The Bible reminds us repeatedly that procrastination and hesitation in doing what is right can lead to destruction. While there are moments in life when waiting on God is wise and biblical, waiting to take steps toward healing, growth, or obedience is not one of them. Today, let’s explore the urgent need to act now, backed by powerful Scripture, and highlight the only waiting that is ever truly beneficial—waiting on God.

The most powerful Bible verse that warns us not to wait to do what we must do is found in Hebrews 3:7-8: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts”. This verse should punch a true believer in the face with a sense of urgency, emphasizing that we should act “right now” and not put off important matters, including repentance.  For those of you who are unsaved, it also implies that now is our time of salvation, and we must not waste the opportunity God has given us. This verse is particularly powerful because it:

1. Emphasizes immediacy with the word “Today”
2. Warns that procrastination leads to the hardening of your heart
3. Implies that opportunities and people may not always be available or alive any longer and you will still be held accountable because you waited. This may lead to very perilous consequences.

The urgency in this verse is also echoed in John 9:4, which states, “We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work”.  This reinforces the fact that our time to act is limited to NOW, and we must seize the moment.

The Deadly Aspects of Delaying Recovery and Life Decisions

1. Waiting Allows Sin to Take Root

Sin thrives in procrastination. When we delay turning from addiction or putting off decisions that God calls us to make, sin gains a stronger foothold in our lives. Hebrews 3:13 warns us, “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” Notice the emphasis on “Today.” Every day we wait, sin hardens our hearts further, making it more difficult to seek God’s grace and deliverance. Eventually, many have turned their back on Jesus and don’t even know it.

2. Waiting Endangers Your Life

Addiction is not only a spiritual issue but also a physical one. Substance abuse deteriorates the body, and each day lost in your addiction brings you closer to severe health consequences or even death. However, this principle also applies to general life decisions. Whether it’s putting off seeking medical help, reconciling with a loved one, or stepping out in faith for a new opportunity, waiting can cost us dearly. Proverbs 27:1 cautions us, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” We are not guaranteed tomorrow, or even the next second, which makes today and now the time for change.

3. Waiting Neglects Your Calling and Purpose

God created you with a purpose, but addiction and procrastination both steal your time, energy, and focus. By some standards, waiting can even be considered a behavioral addiction when you consistently wait. Ephesians 5:15-16 instructs us, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Delaying recovery or any aspect of obedience to the Word of God, is ongoing sin and means missing what God has prepared for you. It could also cost you your salvation. Hebrews 10:26-27 says, “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God”

4. Waiting Hurts Others Around You

Waiting does not just affect the individual; it devastates families, friends, and communities. By hesitating to follow God’s Word and His calling, you deprive others of the blessings He wants to do through us. James 4:17 reminds us, “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” Taking action now is not just about personal healing but about loving those around us.

The Only Waiting That Matters: Waiting on God

While delaying recovery or life decisions is dangerous, there is only one type of waiting that is both Biblical and life-giving—waiting on God. This kind of waiting is not passive but active, filled with faith, prayer, obedience, and trust.

1. Waiting with Expectation

Psalm 27:14 says, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Waiting on God means trusting His timing and provision while taking the steps He has already revealed.

2. Waiting in Hope

Isaiah 40:31 promises, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” When we wait on God, we find renewed strength to overcome the challenges of both recovery and in our Christian walk with Jesus.

3. Waiting with Faithful Obedience

Lamentations 3:25 encourages us, “The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks him.” Seeking God while waiting for Him to move in your life means remaining faithful, obedient, and expectant.

Practical Steps for Immediate Action

1. Repent Today

Don’t wait to confess your sins and seek God’s forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 assures us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

2. Seek Help Now

Reach out to trusted Christian mentors, pastors, your recovery coach, or fellowship today. Proverbs 15:22 states, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”

3. Immerse Yourself in God’s Word

Do not delay in filling your mind with God’s truth. Psalm 119:105 declares, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Start reading and meditating on Scripture more times each day than you eat food, and again at bedtime and very first thing in the morning – before you feet hit the floor..

4. Pray Without Ceasing

Begin a consistent prayer life immediately. Philippians 4:6 encourages us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” If you’re married or live with a family of believers, remember that there is POWER in praying with others and reading God’s Word together. If you refuse to connect with these people, there’s a major obedience problem lurking in your soul.

5. Take the step of Obedience Now

Begin right this very moment. Psalm 37:23 says, “The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him.”

The Danger of PRIDE in All of This

Pride is one of the most insidious obstacles that can hinder us from being in God’s will. When pride takes root in our hearts, it convinces us that we know better than God or that we can handle life’s challenges on our own. Proverbs 16:18 warns, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Just as waiting can be lethal, so can pride be deadly, as it propels you to resist God’s instructions and rely on your own will. Not good! Not wise!

1. Pride Leads to Delayed Obedience

When you believe you are self-sufficient, you may put off following God’s commands, thinking you have plenty of time or better solutions. This is a dangerous mindset. James 4:6 says, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Only by humbling ourselves can we respond promptly to His guidance.

2. Pride Blocks God’s Help

God cannot work fully in the life of someone who refuses to acknowledge their need for Him. Psalm 10:4 states, “In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.” Recognizing your dependence must lean on God, opens the door for His power to transform you.

3. Pride Hinders Relationships

Whether in recovery or the everyday Christian life, pride prevents you from seeking help and reconciling with others. Philippians 2:3 instructs us, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” Humility is the key that brings healing and connection.

4. Overcoming Pride Through Surrender

The antidote to pride is surrendering fully to God. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” When we lay down our pride, we make room for God to lead us into His perfect will.

Let’s be vigilant against the sin of pride, which can paralyze us just as much as waiting can. By humbling ourselves before God and stepping forward in obedience, we position ourselves to experience His abundant grace and transformative power.

1 Peter 5:8, tells us, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour”.

Have a blessed rest of your day my friends. I pray that today is the day you drop both your PRIDE and your insistence on WAITING so that you can return to the King of Kings, our Lord – Jesus Christ before it’s too late. I hope to see you in my next post. Bye for now!