Wait On the Lord for Renewed Strength

/ Eva Burkholder

Have you ever complained to God, as the people of Judah did when they were exiled in a foreign land? I have.

My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God. (Is 40:27 NIV)
The Lord does not see my troubles. God ignores my rights. (NLT)
God pays no attention to us. He doesn’t care if we are treated unjustly. (CEV)
My way is hidden from the LORD and my claim is ignored by my God. (CSB)
God has lost track of me. He doesn’t care what happens to me. (MSG)

Isaiah’s listeners are beaten down and discouraged so he attempts to comfort them. He replies:

Behold your God! The LORD is:

  • a powerful ruler (40:10)
  • a gentle shepherd (11)
  • the creator of the oceans, heavens, earth, mountains, stars (12, 26, 28)
  • all wise and knowledgeable (13–14, 28)
  • surpassing all nations (15–17)
  • superior to any man-made object of worship (18–20)
  • incomparable, the greatest, most powerful (21–26)
  • everlasting (28)
  • never gets tired or weary (28)

Wait on this God and you’ll find renewed strength!

“But those who wait for the Lord’s help find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eagles’ wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired.” (40:31 NET)
“but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.” (NIV)
  • And it will be said in that day: “Behold, this is our God; We have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the LORD; We have waited for Him; We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.” (Isaiah 25:9 NKJV)
  • I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding his face from the descendants of Jacob. I will put my trust in him. (Is 8:17)
  • Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. (Is 26:8)
  • LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress. (Is 33:2)
  • Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who hope in me will not be disappointed.” (Is 49:23)
  • My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way, and my arm will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look to me and wait in hope for my arm. (Is 51:5)

Wait, hope, trust? Which is it? The word is qāwâ in Hebrew and means “wait, look for, hope.”

“The root means ‘to wait or to look for with eager expectation.’ Waiting with perseverance expresses our faith that God will save his people. As we turn our faith towards him, he strengthens us. ‘Renew’ is ḥālap, which…has the idea of ‘change, exchange, replace.’ There is a sense in which we exchange our weakness for his strength as we wait expectantly for him to act.” —Dr. Ralph Wilson 1

We can wait with hope and expectation because of WHO this God is. This God will come to our aid. This God will give us strength. We can trust that we will soar into heavenly places (Eph 2:6), run the race mapped out for us (Heb 12:1), and walk out our the new life (Col 2:6).

What are you waiting for today? Let God exchange your weakness for his strength as you wait expectantly for him to act.

PRAYER

Lord, I’ve been wanting awhile for you to answer the cries of my heart. Help me see your greatness and trust you. When I remind myself how immense and incomparable you are, I find the hope I need to trust you for the deliverance, the answer I’ve been waiting for. Help me to look expectantly for you, to wait in hope for your response.

1 https://www.jesuswalk.com/isaiah/07_comfort.htm

All scripture is in the New International Version unless otherwise noted with emphasis added.

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