The scripture passage sounds familiar to me as I read it. Four verses of great encouragement reminding us God is everlasting yet personal; creator of the whole earth and yet giver of all we need as individuals. Recently, when reading a book referencing these verses, I gained an even greater perspective on these words of comfort. Allow me to share this new nugget of truth, found in verse 31. If we choose to put our hope in the Lord, we receive renewal of strength. That's a promise. However, that strength has various levels of intensity. Perhaps, after leaving my burdens at the feet of Jesus and hoping in the Lord, I may only find the strength to walk and not faint. Or, Lord willing, I may find I've received the power to run without growing tired. Finally, I just may be given the provision to soar on wings like eagles. Any of these levels raises me up from the tired and weary person who first presented my struggles to the Lord.
I think for a long time, I thought if I didn't feel like a million bucks after crying out to our Father, I hadn't prayed hard enough. After learning this perspective, I realize some problems may be too big to get that kind of instant gratification. So, whether I find myself walking, running or soaring, I can praise God for hearing my cry and providing me with renewed strength. Always.
Isaiah 40: 28-31
28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 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.
