“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
There are times in every life when our strength begins to fail.
We grow tired. Our burdens become heavier. The road seems longer than we expected, and we wonder whether we have enough strength to continue. Even the strongest among us eventually discover that human strength has limits.
But God’s strength has no limits.
Isaiah tells us that the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint or grow weary. His understanding is beyond anything we can comprehend. He gives power to the weak and increases the strength of those who have no might.
When our strength ends, God’s strength begins.
What Does It Mean to Wait on the Lord?
Waiting on the Lord does not mean sitting idly and doing nothing. It means trusting God when we cannot yet see the answer. It means continuing to pray, believe and obey while God is working behind the scenes.
David wrote:
“Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart.”—Psalm 27:14
Waiting requires faith. It means refusing to surrender to fear simply because God has not answered according to our timetable.
We live in a world that tells us to hurry, push harder and depend upon ourselves. Scripture teaches us something very different: true spiritual strength comes through patient dependence upon God.
The Lord is good to those who wait for Him and seek Him. There is strength in quietly trusting that God is still in control, even when circumstances appear to say otherwise.
Why Does the Bible Use the Eagle?
The eagle is one of the most powerful images found in Scripture.
God reminded Israel that He had carried His people on “eagles’ wings” and brought them to Himself. Moses described the Lord as an eagle hovering over its young, spreading its wings and carrying them safely.
An eagle does not always escape the storm by flying away from it. It uses the powerful winds to rise above it.
The storm that threatens smaller birds can become the very force that lifts the eagle higher.
That is what God can do in the life of a believer.
The trouble meant to destroy you can become the experience through which God strengthens your faith. The winds of adversity can lift you into a closer relationship with Him. You may not understand the storm while you are passing through it, but God can use it to give you strength, wisdom and a clearer spiritual perspective.
God Renews Us from Within
God’s renewal does not always mean that our circumstances immediately change.
Sometimes the burden remains, but God changes the person carrying it.
The apostle Paul wrote that although the outward person may be perishing, the inward person is being renewed day by day. Our bodies grow older. Our physical abilities may decrease. Life can leave scars upon us. Yet the Holy Spirit continues His work within everyone who belongs to Christ.
God can renew your courage.
He can renew your hope.
He can renew your joy.
He can renew your determination to continue walking forward.
This is not merely a momentary emotional lift. It is a continuing work of grace. Those whose strength comes from God can go “from strength to strength.” Each test becomes another opportunity to discover that His grace is sufficient.
Strength Through Christ
Paul declared:
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”—Philippians 4:13
That verse does not promise that we can accomplish every personal ambition. It promises that Christ will supply the strength needed to endure, obey and fulfill whatever God calls us to do.
Our strength is not found in positive thinking, personal ability or stubborn determination. Our strength is found in Jesus Christ.
Apart from Him, we eventually become weary. Through Him, we receive strength that the world cannot provide.
When we are weak, He remains strong.
When we are confused, He remains faithful.
When we cannot see the road ahead, He already knows where it leads.
Soaring, Running and Walking
Isaiah describes three different experiences: soaring, running and walking.
There are seasons when faith seems to soar. God’s presence feels near, prayers are answered and victory appears certain.
There are seasons when we must run. The work is demanding, but God gives us the strength to press forward.
Then there are seasons when all we can do is walk—one step, one prayer and one day at a time.
Notice that God promises strength for all three.
We will not always soar. We will not always run. Sometimes faithfully walking without fainting is one of the greatest victories of faith.
Put Your Trust in Him
Perhaps you are tired today. You may be carrying a burden that nobody else completely understands. You may feel that your strength is almost gone.
Do not give up.
Wait upon the Lord. Seek Him in prayer. Open His Word. Place your burden into His hands and trust Him with the outcome.
The same God who created the heavens sees exactly where you are. He has not forgotten you. He has not abandoned you, and He has not exhausted His supply of strength.
God still gives power to the weak.
He still strengthens the weary.
He still carries His people on eagles’ wings.
And those who place their complete trust in Him will discover that they can rise above the storm, run without becoming spiritually exhausted and continue walking without collapsing.
Your strength may fail—but God never will.
Evangelist Mike Cunningham
