3-2-1 Lift Off!
“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)
During this pandemic, many believers are asking the question, “What season are we in? What is God doing? And while we believe that He is doing something behind the scenes, it doesn’t take away that lingering feeling of uncertainty or not knowing. This place is unprecedented–– a place where we have not been before. However, one would think that with all of life’s experiences, we should have a 3, 5, or 6-step process to apply to what is happening right now. But guess what? We don’t.
Our adequacy in remaining strong, handling whatever comes our way, and managing every situation has found us inadequate. This pandemic has brought us into the realization that we sometimes fall short in always having it together. And that’s okay. Realizing that we do not always have it together shows the ability rests in someone who can do what we can’t.
In 2 Corinthians 12:9, the Lord told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”In other words, “My grace is always more than enough for you and my power finds its full expression through your weakness.” (TPT) Yes, God gives us the grace to master anything that comes our way, but it’s by His strength that we are able to follow through.
In a sense, this is what Isaiah was trying to get across to Israel. In this one verse, his words of comfort are, when we rest in God, one of our inherited properties is strength –– God’s strength.
The exiled Israel complained that God was no longer concerned about them. And naturally, it can feel that way when we’re going through trying times in our lives and when it seems that God is not within hearing distance of our prayers. However, God is always concerned about us. Psalm 138:8 tells us that the Lord will perfect those things which concern us. Meaning, He will use our experiences to mature and strengthen us –– those who weigh heavily upon His heart.
When we crossed over into the new year, 2020, many of us just knew this would be our year. Every promise God had made and every word He had spoken was going to take flight and land in our new season. But instead, we have found ourselves fighting a battle against an invisible enemy. This struggle has left us tired, weak, and exhausted. But take courage, my friend. The answer is in the waiting.
If we wait on the Lord –– expect, look for, and hope in Him –– we will gain new strength. This renewed strength will enable us to lift our wings and rise close to God like eagles rising toward the sun. When we wait on the Lord, we can run swiftly without becoming weary and walk without growing tired.
I think Psalm 27:14, in The Passion Translation, says it best, “Here’s what I’ve learned through it all: Don’t give up; don’t be impatient; be entwined as one with the Lord. Be brave and courageous, and never lose hope. Yes, keep on waiting—for he will never disappoint you!”
Join me next week for Coffee on The Couch.