Scripture: Isaiah 40:28-31
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.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who wait upon 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.
Devotion: Today’s passage in Isaiah 40 is set within the context of the Israelites' exile in Babylon. You might recall that, despite God’s repeated warnings to them because of their unfaithfulness, Israel ignored God and turned their hearts away from Him. Therefore, they were taken into captivity in Babylon for a prophesied 70 years.
Despite that, God, through His prophet Isaiah, offered a message of comfort and hope to the people by emphasizing His power, faithfulness, and promise of restoration, reassuring them that their suffering is not the end, and that God is actively working to bring about their deliverance if they would only trust Him.
70 years was a long time to wait. But their waiting wasn't a passive waiting. It was a passionate, persistent pursuit of God in the waiting. It was a recognize-our-sin, turn-our-hearts-toward-God kind of waiting.
God eventually fulfilled His promise and returned the exiles to Israel. But their story, and yours is a good reminder that when we are waiting, we don't just wait passively. We wait faithfully, doing something that keeps our focus on, and helps us grow closer to God.
Reflect:
- In what ways are you weary and in need of being strengthened?
- How might you wait faithfully, doing something to grow closer to God?
- Pray right now for God to renew your strength as you trust in Him.
