”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 40:31New International Version (NIV)
Isaiah 40:31 Devotional (Daily Bible Verse)
Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength
Isaiah 40:31 promises that “those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength“. And when their strength is renewed, they will soar like eagles, run without growing weary, and walk without fainting.
Therefore, when you are worn out by the hardships of your life, and you put your hope in God, He will renew your strength. And you will be able to continue to victory.
Israel and their weariness in Babylon
Moreover, the Israelites received this great promise when they were exiled to Babylon. And they were worn out by the hardship that they had experienced over the many decades that they had been in exile.
Additionally, in Isaiah chapter 39, Isaiah proclaimed that the Babylonians would invade Jerusalem and conquer it. Therefore, God’s people needed reassurance. Because their outlook was darkened as recorded in Isaiah 40:27 which reads: “My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God”.
The people of God, therefore, thought that God didn’t care and didn’t help them. And they were weak in their bodies and spirits.
Isaiah’s encouragement to the exiles
But in Isaiah chapter 40, Isaiah shifted to comfort God’s people (Isaiah 40:1-2). Isaiah, therefore, started by declaring God’s impending glory (Isaiah 40:5). And thereafter, he reminded them that God doesn’t grow tired or weary (Isaiah 40:28). Therefore, He is well able to give “strength to the weary and increase the power of the weak” (Isaiah 40:29).
Furthermore, Isaiah stated to them that “even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall” (Isaiah 40:30). That is, even men who are in their prime, at the height of their strength and fitness, therefore, most physically able and active, are limited in their strength.
But those who hope in the Lord shall renew their strength
Nevertheless, Isaiah comforted them with the words: “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31). And he commenced the verse with the word “but”, to contrast those who relied on their own strength with those who relied on God.
Therefore, Isaiah ended up conveying that even the most endowed human will wear down, but those endowed (strengthened) by God would never wear down. Because God gives supernatural strength to those who hope in Him.
But hoping in God is not an easy thing. For example, in Romans 4:19-21, it is written that:
“Abraham faced the fact that his body was as good as dead because he was about a hundred years old, and Sarah’s womb was also dead (19). Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God (20). He was fully persuaded that God had the power to do what he had promised – which was to make him a father of many nations (21)”.
Consequently, Paul, in Romans 4:18, opined that “Abraham hoped against all hope” because there was all the justification to doubt God’s promise. But Abraham didn’t doubt. So he was able to soar in his storm.
The eagle
Furthermore, when the eagle perceives that a storm is approaching (which it does long before the storm breaks), it will fly to a high altitude/spot and wait for the winds to come. And when the storm hits, it will set its wings so that the winds will pick it up and lift it above the storm.
Therefore, the eagle will be able to soar above the raging storm. And in so doing, the eagle will have used the storm to rise above the same.
God will strengthen you as you hope in Him
Consequently, when you put your hope in God, in the midst of your hardship, He will strengthen you. That is, God will renew your strength when you set your mind and trust in His greatness and glory (Isaiah 40:27-28). And God will make you soar above the storms of life that make the way seem impossible.
So, don’t lose your hope in God. Continue to wait on Him because waiting involves patient endurance seasoned with confidence that God will come through for you (Hebrews 11:1). And God will lift you up in His own time. Because He is the God of making ways in impossible situations (Matthew 19:16-26).
Prayer/Blessing
Dear Lord, I present myself to You in humility so that You can renew my strength. Only You can renew my weary body and spirit. Grant me the strength to soar, run, and walk without wearing. And this is my humble prayer in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Daily Bible Reading
1 Corinthians 5-9 (see How to Read the Bible in One Year or How to Read the Bible (for Beginners))
