We all go through difficulties, whether health crises, financial crises, broken relationships with family or friends, personal failures and weaknesses or in general – experiences of deep pain and suffering. And we will continue to do so throughout our lives. Our faith is not “escapist.” A false promise that things will be just fine, if you have enough faith. No. This life is full of trials and God doesn’t just step in and take them all away.
And as we go through these hardships we can become overwhelmed, discouraged and faint. And even though we know that God has a purpose for each one of us, and that God has given us “His precious and very great promises” as 2 Peter 1:4 says; promises to help us, to save us and to bring us into His eternal kingdom – we too still doubt at times. We become fearful and exhausted. And in our despair we ask: Can God’s promises really be true? Is God really able to come through on them? And will God come through for me? We are tempted to give up, “to faint,” to give in to our weariness.
We need to hear and know that God is able to come through for us. For you and for me!
We may be overwhelmed by our circumstances, but God is not. Isaiah 40: 28 says, “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable.” God is able to help us. God is able to keep His promises to us.
And we also need to hear and know that the Lord can strengthen us. We are to “wait for the Lord” – Isaiah 40: 31, knowing that He hears us and knows our situation. And we are to put our hope and trust in God and rely on Him. And when we do this God gives us of His strength. As Isaiah 40: 29 says, “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength.”
We tap into the strength of the Everlasting God Himself; we lean on Him, the One who never grows weary or faints. In this way, despite our troubles, our strength is renewed. As Isaiah 40:31 says, “the Lord shall renew their strength.” And through this strength we are empowered to move forward in our times of difficulty, because we hope in the Lord; because we know that He will fulfill His promises to us.
We can move forward. As Isaiah 40: 31 says, “They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” In the midst of our problems we will walk and not faint, we will run and not be weary, we will mount up with wings like eagles.
Are you weary today? Do you feel overwhelmed? God invites you to come to Him and find hope and strength.
(WILLIAM HIGGINS)