But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31
I grew up on the King James Version of the Bible and whenever I think of this verse, I remember that it reads “...those who wait upon the Lord...” Our English translations come from a Hebrew word that can mean “to expect, wait for, look to, or hope in a person or thing.” I believe that our modern world has a difficult time sitting still and placing our full expectation on the Lord. We want to be busy checking all of our boxes, completing our list of urgent issues, and run to whatever source of comfort we’vebecome dependent upon. The idea of waiting upon the Lord defies everything our world tells us we need to do. We don’t wait for anything.
Because we won’t wait upon the Lord with the eager expectation of his intervention, we do not receive the promise given to those who hope in him. We are not renewed. Those who have not waited upon the Lord will sense their strength fading. The temptation is to wait for strength, but the believer must not be satisfied with strength, power, health, or position. We must be satisfied by nothing less than closeness with the Lord of Glory himself.
Friend, we have this wonderful promise given to us so that we can be renewed by being satisfied in God’s presence. Would you spend some time in prayer and in the Word with God today? Allow God to sustain, heal, comfort, and strengthen you. Tell him your every concern and let his Word speak truth to your heart. Wait upon the Lord!
