By Asifiwe Lema
In 2018, I received a message from a primary school teacher in Tanzania named Asifiwe Lema. He discovered our Living by Design Bible studies online and used them to help his students learn English while sharing the gospel.
Over time, our conversations grew into a meaningful friendship. Through Asifiwe, I also learned that many members of his church and school didn’t have access to their own copy of the Bible. With the support of our Living by Design community, we provided Bibles and practical support for his ministry through our Giving by Design program.
Recently, I asked Asifiwe to share part of his story with our readers. His reflections come from a season when progress felt slow, and the responsibilities of providing for his family felt heavy. Yet through that waiting, God shaped his faith in powerful ways.
— Sarah Koontz
Waiting Is One of the Hardest Spiritual Disciplines
“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” – Psalm 27:14 ESV
Some of the hardest seasons of life begin quietly—when responsibilities increase, resources are scarce, and progress feels painfully slow. In these moments, faith is tested.
Waiting is one of the hardest spiritual disciplines I’ve ever faced.
When my wife, Faustina, and I married, we stepped into life together with almost nothing. We had about 20 kilograms of rice, five liters of cooking oil, a small gas cylinder, and a few household items we received as wedding gifts.
My monthly salary was about $100, yet life required far more just to survive without constant stress. Many evenings, I returned home to find my wife waiting, needing money for food when the month was far from over.
I often felt helpless. There was nowhere to borrow money. No one to rescue us.
In the middle of this struggle, Faustina became pregnant. Instead of joy, fear overwhelmed me. I wondered how we could possibly care for a child when we were barely surviving ourselves.
Those early months of marriage, God taught me what it means to wait on Him.
God Renews Us While We Wait
“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength.” – Isaiah 40:31a ESV
As a father, I longed to give my children comfort and security. As a husband, I wanted to ease the burdens on my wife.
Instead, we often found ourselves calculating every expense.
Moments of discouragement came. In many parts of Africa, economic pressure isn’t just personal, but communal.
Families often carry extended responsibilities, opportunities can be limited, and resources stretched thin. The weight of providing for those you love can feel overwhelming.
But during that season, I held onto the promise found in Isaiah 40:31. God wasn’t ignoring us; He was renewing us.
Strength doesn’t always come through dramatic breakthroughs. Sometimes God strengthens us quietly—day-by-day, prayer by prayer.
Faithfulness Matters More Than Outcomes
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” – Galatians 6:9 ESV
During that season, I learned an important lesson: God asks for obedience, not outcomes.
I continued serving. I continued teaching. I continued leading my family in prayer, even when I didn’t see immediate change.
One experience during that season deeply shaped my understanding of obedience while waiting.
We received money specifically sent to purchase Bibles for ministry. Our needs were great, and the temptation to use that money for our own survival was very real. But my wife insisted the money be used exactly as intended.
So we obeyed God and gave it away.
Our circumstances didn’t change overnight, but they changed—slowly.
Waiting revealed things in my heart that God wanted to refine. It stripped away pride and exposed impatience. Through waiting, God was teaching me humility.
God Often Works Through Small Steps
“The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad.” – Psalm 126:3 ESV
Over time, I saw small signs of progress. Not dramatic breakthroughs, but steady provision.
Piece by piece, our life improved. What once looked fragile and uncertain changed into something more steady.
Today, our family lives a life centered on faith and community. We farm, raise animals, and work hard to provide for our children. Our home is a place of warmth and encouragement where people gather to pray, learn Scripture, and support one another.
We aren’t at the summit of success, but we aren’t where we started. We’ve experienced God’s faithfulness.
Waiting Is Preparation, Not Punishment
“And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” – James 1:4 ESV
Looking back, I realized something powerful: if God had answered my prayers quickly, I might’ve missed the transformation.
Waiting taught me dependence instead of self-reliance. Gratitude instead of entitlement. Faith instead of anxiety.
Living in Africa isn’t easy. Many people work extremely hard, yet remain trapped in poverty. Many live without security, without savings, and without systems to support them.
But hope in God changes everything.
Waiting wasn’t punishment. Waiting was preparation. God was completing something in me.
If you’re in a season of delay, don’t lose heart. The same God who sustained my family will sustain you.
Wait on Him. Trust Him. Remain faithful.
The God who promises is always faithful.
Asifiwe Lema
Asifiwe Lema is the head teacher of Isaiah Samaritan School and serves as a Bible teacher and deacon at Tanzania Assemblies of God (TAG). His wife, Faustina, is a devoted homemaker and passionate gospel singer who serves in the Harvestors Choir at their church. Together they are raising their daughters, Sarah and Gabriella, and live a simple life farming, raising livestock, and investing in the spiritual growth of their family and community.
