Perspectives

Isaiah 40:27-31… 27) Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God”? 28) 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. 29) He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30) Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall: 31) 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. (NIV)

Sometimes we just get weary of it all. Sometimes we are tired in body and in spirit. Our strength is exhausted, fed up with everyone and everything around us. By this time, we are ready to say things not everyone wants to hear. Have you ever felt like this?

Unfortunately, one of the shortcomings of people, even Christian people, is that our strength is exhaustible. While we must face the reality that all of us deal with weariness, there is hope from the Scriptures of a deeper reality in which we can tap into the inexhaustible strength of God. Would it not be fantastic to be able to draw upon an unlimited reserve of power to get through the tough times?

Young people; in the prime of their life, they at times stumble and fall. Verse 30 speaks to the young. And it is at this age that we did not realize that our strong energy levels would weaken. We thought we would always feel good as we felt when we were young, and we might even look better in older years than we did when we were young. However, these bodies, now much older and frail, once full of energy – have begun to run down. We walk about with aches and pains This is the reality of growing older. But a mark of maturity is that we face life squarely as it is, and say to ourselves, “We shall rise above the noise, clatter of this world, and put our hope in God.”

When we grow weary, we are also at risk to despair and depression. Scripture speaks about depression and despair; we know it to be true – we have from time-to-time experience episodes. It is extremely easy for a weary person to want to throw up their hands and quit. It is so easy to be negative and critical when we are weary. It is so easy to feel like everyone is against us. And it is so easy to feel sorry for ourselves when we are weary

The incredible promise of God is that “Those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength.” Who are those? It is you. It is me because our only hope is in God. We live by listening for and hearing His voice. So, the contrast is between the helplessness of a weary soul and the vitality of a waiting Christian. When we trust in the Lord, we gain new strength. They are the believers. Those who walk, not by sight, but by faith in a risen Lord.

We stand by a commitment: Trust in the Lord, we shall gain new strength. The idea here is that as we draw near to God, waiting upon Him expectantly in faith, trusting Him as our resource, that He will then impart to us His strength. The truth is that our strength runs out. What we need is new strength, and that is exactly the promise the Holy Spirit makes to us… To God Be the Glory Great Things He Has Done.

Would you pray this prayer with me…? “Lord Jesus, come into my heart. Forgive my sins. I want my life to change. My thoughts and my attitude need to change. I do not have peace in my heart. I really want that peace, joy, and happiness that I long for. Please let the Holy Spirit help me be the kind of Christian that will bring honour to Your Name.” Amen