Yet those who wait for the LORD
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.
Isaiah 40:31 (NASB)
In my reading of Isaiah, I have reached the end of chapter forty, and this very well-known verse. It is a source of comfort to God’s children in tough times when there seems to be no end to what assails their life. That was the situation of the Israelites in the text; they were facing a mighty enemy as the Assyrian army swarmed the regions and even their villages. The latter part of chapter forty is spent reminding the people how mighty their God was; “The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is unsearchable” (verse 29).
As we look at the first line of today’s verse, we are brought to the benefits of patiently waiting on God in hard times. The Hebrew word qâvâh for wait is not a benign word; it refers to actively waiting patiently and doing it expectantly – knowing that God will show up in His own perfect time. In her devotional post today, sister Cindy quoted my favorite verse regarding waiting on God:
Wait for the LORD;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the LORD.
Psalm 27:14
In waiting, the child of God finds strength and courage, knowing Him who they wait for. In verse 29 of Isaiah 40, we find that God alone is the source of strength to those who wait on Him. It is here that we come to the most visual imagery in this verse; that of “mounting up with wings like eagles.” As a birdwatcher from my youth birds of prey have a special place in my heart. I remember frequent visits to a local rocky escarpment to watch Peregrine falcons nesting on the cliffs; their soaring in the blue sky before they swooped down to deliver more food to their young was a thing of beauty – it looked so effortless. I am sure this is what Isaiah wrote of in this verse.
Dear Reader, the God who was there for His people in the time of Isaiah is here for us today. As we wait upon God today, He will strengthen us in our daily walk with Him. Let us embrace His Word of Encouragement, and await the wind of His Spirit as He lifts us into His Light.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Devotional Treasures
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