What does the Bible say about God's grace and waiting?

In Isaiah 30:18, the Lord declares, 'Therefore will the Lord wait, that He may be gracious unto you.' This highlights the sovereign grace of God, who in His mercy uses times of adversity to draw His elect closer to Himself. When we experience hardship, it serves to strip us of our reliance on earthly strengths and brings us to a point of crying out for God's mercy. God’s waiting is not inaction; rather, it serves a divine purpose in revealing His grace to those who depend utterly on Him.