How can trusting God help us "run and not grow weary" in trials? A Timeless Promise to the Weary “Those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.” – Isaiah 40:31 Context: Israel’s Exhaustion—Our Exhaustion • Isaiah wrote to a nation facing exile, distance, and discouragement. • The same unchanging God speaks to anyone who feels spent by trials, deadlines, illness, or uncertainty. • Verse 31 is God’s direct pledge, not mere poetry; He binds His reputation to it. What It Means to “Wait upon the LORD” • “Wait” (qāvâ) carries the idea of binding oneself to something strong—clinging, hoping, trusting. • It is active dependence, not passive sitting. • Trusting God is therefore: – Expecting Him to act (Psalm 27:13-14). – Orienting our choices to His Word (Proverbs 3:5-6). – Refusing shortcuts that bypass His timing (1 Samuel 13:8-14 shows the danger of that). How Trusting God Renews Strength 1. Fresh Supply, Not Self-Sufficiency • “Renew” is literally “exchange.” We trade our weakness for His power (2 Corinthians 12:9). 2. Elevated Perspective • “Mount up with wings like eagles” shifts the viewpoint above the storm (Colossians 3:1-2). 3. Sustained Momentum • “Run and not grow weary” pictures long-distance endurance, not a brief sprint (Hebrews 12:1-3). 4. Consistent Stability • “Walk and not faint” covers the ordinary grind—meetings, caregiving, daily chores (Galatians 6:9). Running Without Weariness: Daily Pictures • A parent up with a sick child who still faces work the next morning. • A believer battling cancer, yet speaking hope to waiting-room strangers. • A student resisting peer pressure semester after semester. God’s strength, not adrenaline, lets them keep going. Practical Ways to Deepen Trust in Trials • Start each day by reading a promise aloud (Psalm 143:8). • Replace anxious thoughts with Scripture recitation (Philippians 4:6-8). • Keep a journal of answered prayers to review during setbacks. • Engage in corporate worship; shared faith multiplies endurance (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Serve someone else; acting in love directs focus from self to God’s purposes (Isaiah 58:10-11). Scriptures That Fuel Endurance • 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 – “Outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” • Psalm 73:26 – “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart.” • Lamentations 3:22-24 – “His mercies are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!” • Romans 8:31-39 – Nothing can separate us from His love; therefore, nothing can exhaust us beyond His power. Takeaway: Keep Your Eyes on the Faithful One Trusting God is not a pep talk; it is an exchange—our depleted resources for His limitless strength. Anchor yourself to His proven character, and you will indeed run and not grow weary, walk and not faint. |
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