Isaiah 40:30-31 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Context: Isaiah 40:1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. v.3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. v.18 To whom then will ye liken God?…
From the lexicon: Weary=to tire. Faint=toil, stumble. Fall=stagger, totter. Wait=eagerly expect. Renew=pass onto. Strength=power. Mount=go up, ascend.
Pulling it together: We need this promise today in a time when uncertainty seems to close in on us. We struggle to overcome our circumstances and become frustrated when things do not come out as we have hoped–or prayed. We grow weary and are tempted to give up, but our verse reminds us that they that wait on–eagerly look expectantly for–the Lord shall pass from weariness to new strength. They will be empowered as in ascending over all that comes against them as if riding on the wings of eagles. They shall have the strength to run, keeping on overcoming circumstances and will not faint.
Looking to the broader context of this verse we find Isaiah reporting that in the year that King Uzziah died, God appeared to him. King Uzziah was one of the good kings in Judah. His death meant uncertainty for that kingdom, but God spoke to Isaiah through a vision, reminding the prophet of His majesty and power.
This is good news for us. In these troubling times, God is still on His throne. He has never abdicated, nor will He, no matter how much the world opposes Him. He reigns and still cares for His people. Why should we fear what man can do (Hebrews 13:6)?
Lord I pray for grace to wait on you and to cease trying to solve things on my own. I pray for grace to look expectantly to You for You are able to do more than I can ask or even put into words (Ephesians 4:30).