Strength in our journey
Strength in our journey
Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:28-31 From the text, the Israelites were complaining that God seemed to be uncaring about their situation. At times we may feel tired and worn out due to the demands life presents to us each day. We are stressed that we are not sure if we can still take another step. God knows and is aware of how we feel, our fears, and He is adequate to our every need. Relying on our strength will not help us be obedient to God. This is why we need the strength that comes from Him. “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). We can always trust Him to provide the strength we need. On our own, we will faint and fall. But if we wait on the Lord by faith, we will receive strength for the journey. The word “wait” does not suggest that we sit around and do nothing. It means “to hope,” to look to God for all that we need (see Isaiah 26:3; 30:15). This involves thinking about His promises He gave to us found in His word, praying, and seeking to glorify Him. He promised that He will give us “new strength.” We exchange our weakness for His power (see 2 Corinthians 12:1–10). When we learn how to wait on God we will discover that He is there to enable us to soar when there is a crisis. We are strengthened and not give-up when the challenges are many. We can remain faithful to God facing the day-by-day demands of life. It is God’s intention to strengthen us each day and enable us to face the challenges knowing that He is with us. Our culture and the environment we live do not enjoy waiting. With all the pressures we face and the commitments we have we feel overwhelmed with the many responsibilities we hold. So many times we find ourselves rushing through our lives without stopping to evaluate our activities. The way God deals with us is to get our attention so we would slow down. He gets our attention so we could listen to Him. Once we learn how to wait on Him, we will start to grow in our dependence upon His strength. When we slow down and seek His will, in His Word, God will show us the resources He has provided to help with the work we have been attempting on our own. “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
Blessings,
Noel De Guzman
www.my-wbc.com
