Day 152, Year 1

Those Who Wait on the Lord Will Renew Their Strength

“But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31 NKJV)

“Strength” in today’s verse is koach in Hebrew and refers to physical vigor and the courage to face adversity here. Many God’s people know a secret—we, who wait on Him, will get our strength refreshed to meet every challenge. Waiting on God does not mean doing nothing, but is rather putting ourselves under God’s care. And here are some practical suggestions.

First, wait on God for His help and empowerment. Waiting on God is undoubtedly a time of anticipating His grace coming upon us, particularly for Him to grant us greater strength. Human weakness and incompetence could stem from various factors, such as environmental challenges, setbacks, illnesses, or disappointment, which could lead us to discouragement andexhaustion. Thus, we often need to quiet our minds and wait for His presence and empowerment.

Second, we need to prepare ourselves in a better way. Waiting on God is a time to adjust ourselves, be it letting go of wrong expectations, restraining excessive or unnecessary thoughts, dealing with misplaced emotions, and collecting our minds from the wrong places, as we are entering into a state of readiness to engage with God’s presence and receive His power. You may need to reflect on where you have deviated from God’s will; then repent, and turn back to Him so that His power can come upon you again.

Third, pay attention and cooperate with the Holy Spirit. The imagery of “mount up with wings like eagles” in today’s verse comes from the eagles sensing the upward air currents and rising with the wind. This upward flow of wind can be a metaphor for the work of the Holy Spirit, as He upholds those who trust in Him, like warm or hot wind supporting eagles for their effortless upward soaring. When we are attentive to and cooperate with God’s Spirit, our lives and services become much easier, and our spiritual lives grow steadily under His guidance.

Fourth, the last part of today’s verse suggests that those who wait on God can keep running without wearying. This is related to the explanation of the above paragraph—when we are attuned to the work of the Holy Spirit, it becomes easier for us to receive His instructions, guidance, and power. Whether running or walking, we would not easily wear out or faint if we follow God’s guidance. In our everyday lives, we need to renew our strength in Him from time to time. The key is to always wait on God, be sensitive to where He is working, and cooperate with Him.

Reflection questions:

1) Do you find it easy to quiet yourself and wait on God so as to receive His strength? If you have difficulty, how would you overcome it by the help of the Lord?

2) Are you able to easily sense the work of the Holy Spirit in and around you, and cooperate with Him? If not, what do you need to change about yourself?