Crazy Love Podcast
Staff Talks with Francis: The Strength in Waiting
March 30, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Francis Chan and Crazy Love staff discuss the increasingly rare practice of waiting upon God—especially in silence—as a source of renewed strength. Chan reflects on generational shifts in spiritual discipline, the cultural impatience eroding faith, and practical steps to reclaim the spiritual power found in waiting. The discussion is candid, self-reflective, and challenges both listeners and leaders to re-examine their rhythms with God.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Lost Discipline of Waiting

• Francis shares a recent experience speaking at Stanford’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA):

  • He was surprised to find very few students (6–8 out of ~100) planning to spend at least 30 minutes in prayer and the Word before their day starts.

    “I grew up in a time where that was just the norm... That was the discipline. That’s what I was taught in my youth group.” (01:10)

  • He contrasts the busyness of Stanford athletes with the contemplative lifestyle he witnessed at a convent, where nuns spend the first 4–5 hours of their day in silence (03:00–04:30).

• Isaiah 40:31 and Waiting as Core to Faith:

  • “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength...” Francis discusses how waiting is fundamental to biblical faith and notes how many people now lack this practice, leading to anxiety and spiritual exhaustion (05:00–06:10).

• Cultural Impatience:

  • Francis points to a culture that sees waiting as a negative—whether it’s waiting for internet, texts, or Amazon deliveries—where “everything is about how waiting is a bad thing” (07:00–08:30).
  • He connects this to the erosion of spiritual disciplines:

    “Meanwhile, Hebrews 11... You may die and not see it. That’s our faith. You’re waiting for something greater.” (08:55)

2. Practical Strategies for Recovering Stillness

• Concrete Steps to Practice Waiting:

  • Francis experiments with “only checking texts during odd hours...Each time I wait, I go, that’s right. I’m called to a life of waiting.” (11:10)
  • Conversation with a nun: pressure to respond instantly to texts is “not of the Lord” (12:00).
  • Reflection on his lack of rhythm in processing spiritual experiences:

    “I don’t sit and think and reflect on something that happened. I’m always thinking about the next thing... I’m just realizing, like, the enemy is really getting us on this.” (14:00)

• The Link Between Waiting and Hope:

  • In Spanish, the word for “wait” and “hope” is the same—“espero”: “It’s this expectation it’s going to happen. The bus is coming. I’m just waiting for it, and the reward is coming and just waiting for it.” (15:15–16:30)

• The Cost of Trying to Do Everything:

  • “If I try to do everything, know everything I’m supposed to know, get back to everyone... then I’m not going to hear his voice. You can’t have it all. You just can’t.” (17:20)
  • Maintaining responsiveness to people’s expectations and maintaining intimacy with God rarely coexist.

3. The Realities of Spiritual Leadership & Grace

• Unique Grace Among Those in Service:

  • Francis reflects on police officers, pastors, and nuns with deep spiritual sensitivity, noting “a special grace” is required to maintain intimacy with God amid occupation-related darkness and busyness (18:45–20:00).
  • Not all religious people or leaders practice this depth of waiting and intimacy—cites specific examples from his community and a priest’s clarification about an especially devout nun.

• Assumptions vs. Reality Among Pastors and Leaders:

  • Francis realizes he may have overestimated how many pastors and leaders regularly practice quiet waiting on God:

    “To me, that’s my center... that’s my foundation... If I lose that, I lose everything.” (24:40)

  • Emphasizes need to train current and future leaders in this discipline (26:15).

4. Expectation in Meeting with God

• Question for Pastors:

  • Francis wonders how many pastors actually wake up each morning to meet with God out of personal hunger, not out of obligation (22:00).
  • Staff estimates it would be “over 10%” at best (22:45).

• Barriers to Expectation:

  • Many don’t expect personal encounters with God in their devotion; see it as a checkbox or duty (23:10).
  • Francis recalls an example of Lisa’s grandmother, who couldn’t wait to meet with Jesus each morning and throughout the day would look forward to that time:

    “See that corner of the bed? That’s where I meet with Jesus every morning... every night I go to bed, I go, tonight. Would tonight be it? God, did I get to see you, you know... I can't wait to see your face. Just like I can't wait till tomorrow morning.” (25:30)

• What We’re Created For:

  • Waiting with expectation is connected to our purpose:

    “We’re created in his image to walk with him... to walk amongst us...” (26:10)

  • Our eagerness for morning time with God mirrors how we await eternity with him.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Cultural Impatience:

  “Everything is about how waiting is a bad thing. That’s just our culture and it’s what we’re taught, and yet that’s going to destroy your walk with the Lord.” (07:50 – Francis Chan)

• On Processing Spiritual Experience:

  “What’s your rhythm to process all that God did in Brazil and thank him for it...and I was like, nothing. You know, like, I process. I don’t. I said, this is something I’m bad at… I don’t sit and think and reflect on something that happened.” (13:00 – Francis Chan)

• On Limitations and Hearing God:

  “If I try to do everything...I’m not going to hear his voice. You can’t have it all. You just can’t.” (17:20 – Francis Chan)

• On Intimacy with God in Spiritual Leadership:

  “How many pastors do I meet where I’m like, wow, that guy is so sensitive to the things of God and so, like, enjoying his presence and walking in this deep intimacy... It requires that grace. And maybe it’s worse with pastors because there’s an assumption that’s happening.” (19:50 – Francis Chan)

• Expecting Encounters with God:

  “I would be surprised if it’s over 10% [of pastors].” (22:45 – Staff)
  “You’ve got Father, Son, Holy Spirit... this God of grace. And he is in that room with you, merciful, eager for you to... He’s wanting to bless you. He’s knocking on the door. He’s the pursuer.” (24:00 – Francis Chan)

• On Spiritual Rhythm and Anticipation:

  “When I pass that corner throughout the day, I just go, oh God, I can’t wait till tomorrow morning. And I just tell him... this sweet old lady and this expectation...” (25:30 – Francis Chan, quoting Lisa’s grandmother)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:10 – Reflection on the lost discipline of morning quiet time
• 03:00–04:30 – Comparison of athletes’ busyness vs. nuns’ contemplative silence
• 05:00–08:55 – Scriptural basis for waiting and cultural impatience
• 11:10 – Francis’ personal experiment with resisting digital distractions
• 15:15–16:30 – Language insight: “esperar” as wait/hope
• 17:20 – Limits of trying to do everything and hearing God
• 18:45–20:00 – Spiritual resilience among police, nuns, pastors
• 22:00–22:45 – Posing the quiet time question to pastors
• 24:00–26:10 – The expectation of encountering God; story of Lisa’s grandmother

Summary

This episode powerfully spotlights the necessity and forgotten strength of waiting—of sustaining silence before God amid a hyper-driven culture. Francis Chan intertwines scripture, personal shortcomings, and real-life observations to expose both the dangers of rushing through spiritual life and the almost-miraculous grace available to those who will slow down and wait. The challenge is clear: reclaim waiting as expectation and hope, for both spiritual leaders and every believer.