The Purpose of Waiting (Isaiah 40:30-31)
- Bud Burk
- May 31, 2011
- 2 min read
Updated: May 30
Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 but they 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. —Isaiah 40:30-31
Isaiah preceded verses 30-31 with a call to behold who God is and what He does, (v. 28-29). Now, He develops that thought further. As you read, there is at least one question you should ask. Do you see it? Read on.
Verse 30 reminds us that we faint, grow weary, and fall exhausted. There is good news in verse 31, however. It is no secret in Scripture that when we see the word but or but God following words that reveal our sin and weakness, we are often moved to praising God as He reveals His grace and mercy (see, for example, I Corinthians 1:26-31; Ephesians 2:1-10). This is one of those places in Scripture: “But they who wait for the LORD…” God provides for those who are weak who wait for Him:
renewed strength
the ability to mount up with wings like eagles
strength to run and not be weary
strength to walk and not faint
But why? Why does God promise strength to those who wait for Him? That's the question we should ask. He is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He made us to live for Him and not for ourselves. We need strength to do what we were created to do, namely, to make His name known in our lives; to glorify Him.
How does this point us to Jesus and what does it have to do with strength and weakness? Reading Hebrews 2:14-18; 4:14-16, we are told that Jesus sympathizes with our weaknesses and that because of His blood and righteousness we can go to God and find strength, so that we can live for Him.
For Reflection
As you commune with God in prayer, ask yourself, Am I content to depend upon God; am I at peace with being weak while depending on His strength?
As you find promises of help in Scripture, may the Spirit give witness to Jesus in your heart.
May you long for God’s name to be made great in your life.