Waiting for the LORD
Scripture — Isaiah 40:30-31 (NRSV)
Even youths will faint and be weary,
and the young will fall exhausted,
but those who wait for 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.
Focus
Do you feel weary today? Weary from the burdens of work, leadership, and life in general? If so, Isaiah 40 would encourage you to wait for the Lord. As you put your hope in God and lean upon God’s strength, you will be renewed and energized for resilience.
Devotion
When I was in my early 20s, I jogged for exercise on a regular basis. One day I thought I’d try to run a marathon. There wasn’t an official race. I just decided to see if I could run 26.2 miles.
I felt great for the first half of my solo marathon. By 15 miles I was getting pretty tired. Then, at 18 miles I “hit the wall,” as they say. In fact, I’m sure I was completely dehydrated, since I didn’t drink any fluids during my run. (Yes, I now realize that was unbelievably foolish!) I stumbled along for the last 2 miles of my run, about 6 miles short of my goal. I never again tried to run a marathon!
Even though I was young and in fairly decent shape, my strength was limited. I served as a perfect illustration of Isaiah 40:30: “Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted.” But that’s not the end of Isaiah’s thought. He contrasts the waning endurance of youth with the endless strength of those who wait for the Lord. Isaiah’s point is that if we trust in God, even when God seems to delay, we will find strength to persevere in life, even to soar.
No matter what age you are, I expect there are times you feel weary, weary from work, weary from the burdens of leadership, weary because life can be exhausting. If you can relate at all to the feeling of weariness, then why not put your hope in the Lord? Why not choose to wait upon him? I’m not suggesting this is easy. Sometimes waiting and hoping in God requires a great deal of commitment, not to mention divine grace. But the promise of God through Isaiah encourages us to turn fully to the Lord, to wait for God’s provision, to hope in God even when we feel hopeless. God will strengthen us for all that lies ahead.
Reflect
What exhausts you physically? Emotionally? Spiritually?
Have you ever experienced the strength that comes from trusting in God? When?
For what challenges in life do you need God’s strength today?
Act
Find a time this week when you can sit quietly for at least ten minutes and wait upon the Lord.
Pray
Gracious God, thank you for the strength you give us. Thank you for helping us be courageous when we’re afraid, patient when we’re irritated, and kind even when we’re mistreated. Thank you for empowering us to serve you in this world, gifting us through your Spirit. Thank you for helping us to endure suffering, to remain hopeful when people around us have been snared by cynicism.
Help me, dear Lord, to trust in you more each day. When you don’t do what I’d like, or when you don’t act according to my timetable, may I wait with patience and confidence. As I hope in you, may I receive the gift of your strength, so that I might keep on hoping, serving, and praying. Amen.
Banner image by Semyon Borisov on Unsplash.
Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the High Calling archive, hosted by the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: Waiting Patiently for God?.
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Mark D. Roberts
Senior Strategist
Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a Senior Strategist for Fuller’s Max De Pree Center for Leadership, where he focuses on the spiritual development and thriving of leaders. He is the principal writer of the daily devotional, Life for Leaders,...