Desperate For His Strength

Isaiah 40:28-31

28Do 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.
29He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31but 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 be faint.
 
            In these final verses of Chapter 40, the prophet Isaiah is focusing in on some key themes that are essential for you and I along life’s journey. First, the Lord our Creator does not grow tired & weary nor do we understand all His ways. (Isaiah 55:8-9) Secondly, the Lord strengthens the weary and empowers the weak, renewing those who have put their hope in Him alone. However, found within these promises regarding our Almighty, powerful God and the strength we have access to through Him, Isaiah describes our struggle – the desperation in our frail humanity to deal with life’s struggles and hardships, “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall.” Therein lies the danger of “doing life” in our own strength, frantically trying to reason our way out of situations, and solve our problems without inviting God to be a part of our circumstances, asking Him for the strength to endure. Isaiah reminds us here that “those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.” I will say that hope requires an element of desperation as we must cast off all of our human efforts and reasoning to the wind, becoming desperate for the Lord to renew our strength.
 
            However, selfish pride, our inner man, and our enemy would have us believe that we would be fools to lay down our guard and simply become desperate for the Lord. But we must remember that with desperation for the Lord comes a heart of humility and gratitude that brings about a peace that surpasses all understanding regardless of our circumstances. (Proverbs 3:5-6) Allowing ourselves to become desperate for the strength of the Lord, and continually placing our hope in Him, assures us of the promise that He will not allow us to grow weary (give up) or faint (be defeated) in the midst of our circumstances. From a worldly perspective it may appear that we have lost something, or someone has gained something over us, but in God’s perspective He is doing a greater work that only He may be able to completely see at the present moment, and in His time will reveal to us as we remain desperate for Him. Today, know that being desperate for God’s strength is not a sign of weakness, rather instead, a sign of maturity in your faith, understanding that He must always and ultimately be our source of power in this world where we can become easily weary and worn.

            Father, this morning I thank You and praise You for being my Everlasting God and the Master Creator of all that I see. Your creation speaks of Your mighty power and of Your daily presence with me for this journey. I place my faith and ultimate hope in You today to strengthen me when I become weary and to give me Your power when I become weak in body, mind, soul, or spirit. (2 Timothy 1:7) My desire is to become more desperate for you Lord in every area of my life, so that You can demonstrate Your strength, power, and glory within me. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.