Supplier of Our Strength

Verse of the day: Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Israel was in Babylonian captivity when the Prophet Isaiah wrote these words. Like the Israelites, we may find ourselves captive to certain circumstances in life. We may find ourselves trapped in unexpected financial hardships, the consequences of sinful behavior, or tribulation brought on by our refusal to follow the world’s way; whatever the situation, we may find ourselves in despair, drained physically, mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually. Israel, often because of their own stiff-necked rebellion, found themselves having to wait on the Lord’s deliverance continually. The Old Testament saints endured while waiting for the coming of their Messiah, and today, we, His children, await His second coming as we endure the challenges of life. It is very easy to come to the place of defeat, discouragement, and a desire to just lie down and give up. We may find that as we serve the Lord, the fact that we are growing older in age, we may not have the same energy we had in our youth. Our strength may be diminishing, and as we have faced more battles, we may become weary in the fighting. In our old age we may become limited by physical infirmity, and our ability to do what we did in our youth may become a memory. However, our God offers us hope. We are assured of His return (1 Thess 4:16); but in waiting for His return we are assured strength, energy, and the ability to continue serving Him and being steadfast (1 Cor 15:58), even in the midst of the challenges this life will present. Like the eagle, who moults in its old age and renews its strength (youth), God promises that if we wait upon Him, we too will renew our spiritual strength, enabling us to endure physically, mentally and emotionally. In Christ, He gives us the ability, like the eagle, to soar above the storm clouds, and storms of life. He is still the One who calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee (Mk 4:39).  The Apostle Paul suffered many things in his service to the Lord, but his response was that he could do all things through Christ who strengthened him (2 Cor 11:23-33; Phil 4:11-13). Like a marathon runner who runs long distances, we have the ability to run the race set before us (1 Cor 9:24; Phil 3:13-14; 2 Tim 4:7-9), being refreshed and renewed by our Living Water (Jn 4:13-14). In life, we may come to the place where the pace that is required is a walk, because of age or physical limitation, but He promises that we will walk and not be weary. The bottom line is that in our life in Christ, and our service to Him, we will encounter those times when the challenges will wear us down. None of us are exempt. As we wait for the Lord, we are to continue in a life lived in integrity and righteousness (Ps 25:21). In due time He will strengthen our hearts (Ps 27:14), and deliver us from the discouragements, and disappointments we experience in this lifetime. We are to rest in Him, and not be dismayed by what we observe of the wicked prospering because their time will come to be judged, and our time will come to be forever with the Lord, in the ultimate victory (Ps 37:-9).

Our ultimate victory in life is in the Lord. However, it begins with a personal relationship with Him. Today, He extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus in repentance, confessing their sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).