Strength from God

"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." - Isaiah 40:31

With each new year, many of us make resolutions to change certain areas in our lives.

Maybe we want to lose some weight, join a gym to get fitter or be committed to changing a harmful behaviour.

New years resolutions range from simple desires, to fool proof plans for extensive life change, and what we all have in common, is that something will change and life will be different (and better) in the year ahead.

However, generally a few short weeks later, many of us end up discouraged, because we have failed to stick with our resolutions! Every failed resolution serves as a reminder, that grit alone won't fix what is broken.

The problem isn't in setting goals, it is where we place our hope. Most new years resolutions focus on external change - losing weight, getting fitter or finishing that stack of unread books!

But lasting transformation starts on the inside, in our hearts, we don't just need new habits, we need a new source of strength.

Isaiah 40:31, contains a great promise of strength for the weary. This verse promises a supernatural renewed strength, a strength that would compare to mounting up as an eagle or running without fatigue. Eagles are known for their strength and ability to soar above the clouds and through the storms; they are powerful creatures.

Isaiah is comparing these majestic and noble birds, to those who remain faithful to God. To soar or mount up, on wings like eagles, means that God will bring his people through the storms they are facing. This is an incredible image of what God's people have to look forward to. All we have to do is trust in Him.

We may expect Isaiah to share the wisdom of physical rest, exercise, diet, etc. and while those are all God-given sources of strength, they cannot give us the deepest strength we need when we come to the end of ourselves. Isaiah acknowledges this -

"even youths shall faint and be weary; and young men shall fall exhausted" (Isaiah 40:30).

In other words, even those in their prime with perfect health, have limits. We need a stronger strength to match our deep discouragements.

There is only one answer, and here we come to the great promise of this text:

"They who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength."

Here we admit that we don't have the strength we need. We acknowledge that we need the strength only He can give. And we wait for Him. In the midst of hardship, we look to Him as the one who works all things together for our good. God's greatness is not just that He is strong, but that He is strong for us.

So how does Isaiah 40:31 apply to our lives today?

While this verse was written to the nation of Israel who were facing difficult hardships, the same principles apply to us today. Our call is still to place our hope in, and wait on, God. Whatever we are facing we are called to trust in God and he promises to sustain us.

How comforting is that!

God bless