When I was a teenager, I found a Bible verse that I thought no one knew about. It was a new discovery, a secret gem. It even talked about eagles. About a week later, I discovered the gem was no secret. It was printed on journals, bookmarks, and pictures. It turned out to be everywhere. Others had seen it and cherished it as well. And rightfully so. This beloved verse promises renewed strength and unfailing endurance.
“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
Recently it’s been hard to wait on God and still have joy. But Scripture says we will have renewed strength if we wait on Him. The wait is worth it.
Why does God give us strength if we wait on Him? How would you answer that?
Perhaps it’s because when we wait on God, we’re saying we trust Him above relying on ourselves. We’re depending on Him to meet our needs and desires instead of satisfying them our own way. Perhaps it’s because we’re seeking Him above anything else. Knowing God and growing in a close, personal relationship with Him produces strength like nothing else can. We were created to know Him and love Him. So why shouldn’t being close to God enable us to handle what comes up in life and equip us to do what He’s called us to do?
So, there is joy in the waiting. When we wait on God, we get the joy of knowing Him, loving Him, and being loved by Him. We get the joy of staying close to Him and seeing Him do things only He can do. His dreams, His goals, His plans for us are so much better than anything we could think up on our own. When we wait on Him, we get Him. And the best He has to give us.
God is the ultimate strength renew-er. His strength never runs out. When we stay close to Him and look to Him, He will infuse us with His strength and enable us to soar to the heights He has for us, in joy and peace, in usefulness and effectiveness, in hope and endurance.
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Katy Kauffman is a co-founder of Lighthouse Bible Studies, a ministry which seeks to connect people to God through His Word. She graduated from Luther Rice Seminary with a BA in Religion, and she has taught the Bible to women and teens. Katy has seen in her ministry experiences at home and abroad that every person has the same need for God and His Word, and the same desire to be loved. She teaches and writes to enrich women's understanding of Scripture and to inspire them to experience the life God has for them. Katy wants to help women to know God on a personal level and love Him more each day; to flourish in God's love, walk in His joy, and rest in His peace; and to overcome the obstacles of the Christian life and live victoriously. Katy enjoys scrapbooking, learning to play the guitar, and spending time with family and friends. She makes her home in a cozy suburb of Atlanta, Georgia.
photo credit: skersting66 via photopin cc
Great post! Thank you for sharing it. :)
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