and complain, O Israel,
“My way is hidden from the
Lord;
my cause is disregarded by
my God?
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 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 faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31)
Israel was complaining. Jacob was feeling sorry for himself. But the prophet says, “Hey! Don’t you know God? Don’t you remember that He created this spinny thing called earth and all of creation? Don’t you know He never sleeps yet never gets tired? He’s God!
“Where’s your faith?”
Ouch. That’s a painful question.
But this kind of pain is good, because there is more to the question; there is an answer.
If we are tired today, weary of this life, may I encourage us to take our eyes off the problems surrounding us and lift our eyes to the One who made our eye-ball? He’s the one who placed the sun in the sky and gave the ocean its boundaries. I can’t do that. And I can’t control my life.
If we’re tired today of trying to figure out everything, maybe we need to sit down, close our eyes and ask Him to help us trust Him. If Jesuscould speak the universe into order and calm the waves of the sea, He can grant us peace in the midst of the chaos. But the peace only comes through trust.
He can exchange beauty for ashes.
The oil of joy for the spirit of despair.
He can give the peace that Paul had when he wrote, “I know what it is like to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry. Whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength” (Phil 4:12,13).
The prophet instructs Israel to hope in the Lord.
Not healing.
Not winning the lottery.
Not other people.
Hope in the Lord.
The KJV translates the verse to, “Those who wait upon the Lord….” But actually the definition of the original word, quavah, (kwa-vaw’) includes, hope, wait and expect. If we put these meanings together, the sentence says, “Those who wait expectantly with hope will fly!
Beloved, I’m ready to fly! How about you?
What do you need to give to the Lord today? Give it to Him and wait expectantly with great anticipation for His grace, His peace, and His answer. Lay your burdens down. If our arms are carrying our bundle of troubles we can’t spread our wings!
Much love,
andy
