Stuck Between Almost and Forever: The Love That Never Fully Arrives

Commitment that resembles an unfinished building

What does it really mean when someone says they are “not ready for a commitment”? Is it just a polite way of saying, I do not want this enough? If love is supposed to overcome obstacles, break down fears, and ignite something powerful, then why does it feel like, when it comes to you, he is still holding back?

And here is the question we all dodge: If someone is not ready, what exactly are they waiting for?

“Why won’t he just commit?” You have asked yourself this a hundred times. You have sat with it, you have pondered it. Is he afraid? Confused? Or does he just not feel it the way you do?

It’s hard not to get caught in the almost-moments when you are convinced that things are about to change. He smiles at you in a way that makes you feel like he sees your soul. He calls you his “person” in passing. But when the conversation drifts to the future, his answers are vague. There is hesitation, that cold pause that lingers in the air.

“I’m just not sure yet,” he says.

But when will you be sure?

“Maybe I’m not what you need. Maybe I need more time,” he murmurs.

And you find yourself asking, Is time really the issue?

So you give him space. You tell yourself you will wait because maybe, just maybe, if you wait long enough, he will realise what he has got. But time keeps passing, and the gap between almost and forever grows wider. And each day, you cannot help but wonder, How long is long enough?

But here is the truth, whispered from the deepest part of your soul: Almost is a lie.

Why are you still waiting for someone who is not stepping forward?

Has God called you to wait in uncertainty, or is He inviting you to step into clarity?

When you love someone who is not ready, you give them space to decide - space to figure out their heart. But at what point do you stop letting their indecision shape your journey? Does the waiting feed your faith, or does it erode it?

Let us be real here: God does not call us to live in limbo. He does not lead us into confusion. When God speaks, it is clear. When He leads, it is intentional. There is no “maybe” in His promises. He says, yes, and His yes is unshakable.

Maybe he is afraid. Maybe he has been hurt before. But does fear excuse inaction? You have heard the verse, “Perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). If he is afraid, is his love truly perfect? Can you wait forever for someone not ready to give you his best, or is the waiting simply keeping you from the fullness of what God has for you?

“What if he really needs time?” you ask. “What if I’m just not patient enough?”

But let me ask you this: Is your heart being led by the Holy Spirit, or is it being led by hope in someone not ready to lead you anywhere?

God’s plans for you are not tied to someone’s indecision. He calls you to walk in truth, in faith, and in freedom. Not to remain tethered to someone’s uncertainty.

“I don’t know if I’m ready, but I really care about you,” he says again.

But do you want to build a future with someone who does not even know what he is building?

It is like standing at a crossroads, hoping someone will walk with you, but they are too busy looking over their shoulder, unsure of which path to take. So you wait, thinking maybe, just maybe, they will choose the one that leads to you.

Here is the thing: Waiting on a man to make up his mind is not the same thing as waiting on God’s timing. God’s timing is active. It is aligned with His purpose for your life, and it is always moving you forward. You are not stuck in a waiting room; you are walking on a path that He has prepared for you. Do not confuse delay with divine direction.

You do not need to prove your worth to anyone, least of all someone who is not ready to value you. And you do not need to chase after someone who is not moving toward you. You were not made to live in the shadow of “maybe”; you were made to live in the light of certainty, purpose, and love that is free of doubt.

Love is not complicated. When someone is ready, you will know. You will not have to decode mixed signals, overanalyse words left unsaid, or shrink yourself into a version that feels more “worthy.” Love - real love – is not a puzzle you have to solve.

So ask yourself this: Are you ready for the kind of love that does not leave you questioning your place in someone’s life?

Because the love God has for you – the love He wants for you – is not one of uncertainty. It is not built on hesitation, fear, or “almosts.” It is bold. It is unwavering. It stands firm. And when the right person comes along, they will not leave you waiting in the shadows of doubt. They will step forward – fully, completely, without fear – because that is what real love does.

And maybe, just maybe, the moment you stop waiting for someone to choose you is the moment you realise…

You were already chosen.

By a God who never hesitates. By a purpose that is already set. By a future that does not depend on someone else’s uncertainty.

So do not be afraid to let go of what is unclear. Because when you do, you make space for something undeniable. Something steady. Something true.

And that? That is worth waiting for.