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 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 40:29-31
Often we want to “soar on wings like eagles” or at least “run and not grow weary,” yet generally these are special times in our lives, the mountain top experiences, the one-offs. Constable quotes Grogan in his commentary, “… the exceptional flying and the occasional running do not require, as does the constant walking, an ever-flowing stream of grace.”
What we most need is an ever-flowing stream of grace so we can consistently and cheerfully walk in God’s ways. By comparison to flying and running, walking seems a bit dull. Yet God highly values persistence and wants to produce “patient endurance” in our lives (2 Thessalonians 3:5, 2 Peter 1:6 NLT).
To walk without fainting we must hope or wait in the Lord. Waiting involves the belief that God will enable and empower us to keep going regardless of the circumstances. Waiting upon the Lord implies a dependence on him and a willingness to let him decide the timing.
When we wait for a bus, we wait expectantly, looking for the bus to come. We wait believing that though it may not come when we think it should, it will come. Unlike waiting for a bus, we aren’t wasting time when we wait in faith, because our strength is renewed and our faith grows.
Let’s be expectant, eagerly looking for God to make his presence felt in our lives, even when he takes longer than we would like.
