Read: Isaiah 40:25-31
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. (v. 29 NIV)
What hinders believers the most in our walk with God? Is it opposition from the enemy? Is it problematic circumstances we just can’t break through? Is it people who stand in our way? Yes, all these things are hinderances, but often it’s something else. Our own weariness, discouragement and fatigue cause us to give up or turn back from what God has called us to do. Do you know what it’s like to be weary?
In Isaiah 40, the prophet Isaiah spoke to God’s weary people. Because of their idolatry, they were dealing with war, captivity and displacement. But Isaiah assured them that there would be forgiveness and restoration in their future—not because of who they were, but because of who God is. Isaiah reminded them that God is holy (v. 25), powerful (v. 26), and the everlasting Creator (v. 28). God never grows weary, and he will give strength to his people. “They who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength,” Isaiah promised them. “They shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (v. 31).
In the days ahead, we will look at what the Bible says about weariness—what it looks like, and how believers should address it. We’ll read God’s precious promises for those who overcome and persevere through seasons of weariness.
May the Lord renew our own strength as we walk with him.
As you pray, remember who God is—the source of all our strength.
Laura N. Sweet is a wife, mother, grandmother, and former Christian school teacher from Midland, Michigan. She writes devotional material for both adults and children, and her work has appeared in more than a dozen publications.
