“Do 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.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but 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.” Isaiah 40:28-31
Hope and Rest to Soar (Isaiah 40:28-31) – Lovely Birds of Lent Week 4
Lately, I don’t often feel like I am soaring through life. With the recent illnesses, Rheumatoid Arthritis flair-ups, and fatigue, I feel more like I am slogging through life. However, this passage in Isaiah encourages me. God is always strong, and HE gives strength to the weary and weak.
“Do 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.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.” Isaiah 40:28-29
We can choose to lean on God and absorb our strength from Him. I just need to remember to lean into Him daily. Sometimes I forget to take the time to take my weakness and weariness to Him when I start feeling that way.
Soaring and Gliding Instead of Grumbling
I want to be the kind of woman whose constant connection with her Creator imbues her with strength and energy rather than one who complains about ailments and trudges in exhaustion. I am often like the tiny confused bird in our printable, but if I will keep my focus on the strength and power of God, I can soar like the eagle.
“Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but 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.” Isaiah 40:30-31
Hope in the Lord
“Those who hope in the Lord” – do you know what hope means? Having heard this word my whole life, I rarely think about what it actually means. To hope is to look for good outcomes expectantly. Am I watching for what God is doing on my behalf? Am I looking for His good purposes and expecting them? I looked up the meaning in the original language. The Hebrew word “qâvâh” has an additional meaning of “to collect or bind together.” Those who gather and bind themselves with God to expectantly hope for His good outcomes will have their strength renewed. “They will soar on wings like eagles.”
Eagles’ Wings
Eagles’ wings are impressive! The wingspan of an eagles can grow over seven feet in width. Each wing contains over 1,200 feathers. These huge, powerful wings allow eagles to rise thousands of feet in the air with minimal wing flapping. Then, the massive spread of feathers keeps them aloft with very little effort as they glide at high altitudes. Short times of expending reasonable amounts of energy and effort followed by soaring and gliding through the heights. That is how God envisions us living the Christian life when we are trusting and hoping in the Lord in community with other Believers.
Lovely Birds of Lent Week 4 Action Step:
Are you a glass half-empty or half-full person? Do you find yourself dreading coming events or anticipating the goodness of God? Do you consistently gather together with other believers? And when you do, do you spend your time looking to God and expecting His goodness or gossipping and griping?
Today, we can take stock of our attitudes and draw near to God for His strength and energy!
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Lovely Birds of Lent Week 4 Prayer:
Dear God, We want to soar in Your presence. Remind us to look to You expectantly with anticipation and to gather with other believers to seek after Your good purposes consistently. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Lovely Birds of Lent Week 4 Video:
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