Welcome back everyone to our Bible study on patiently waiting on the Lord which today we will head back to Isaiah and read a very popular scripture from this prophet that you maybe have on a coffee cup or have seen on a poster somewhere along the line, but it is yet another place in Scripture that talks about waiting on God. I mean day after day we are different places in Scripture here studying looking at guys like Paul, James, Isaiah, and tomorrow David all talk about the importance of waiting on the Lord and the strength needed, and where that strength comes from…this should be telling us something, and I think what it’s saying is that the waiting is not only important and challenging but something common to us as God moves in the time He wants, doing the things He wants, with a greater understanding of the plan than you and I could ever possibly have…doesn’t always make it easier but it is a theme built all through our Scriptures…so again today let’s grab your Bible and something to write with, as we look at part of Isaiah 40 and then we will really focus on verse 31 today we will start in the Message version then really focus on 31 in the ESV.
Isaiah 40:27 Why would you ever complain, O Jacob, or, whine, Israel, saying, “God has lost track of me. He doesn’t care what happens to me”? 28 Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening? God doesn’t come and go. God lasts. He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine. He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath. And he knows everything, inside and out. 29 He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts. 30 For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall. 31 But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind. MSG
So instead of saying, well this guy is talking to Israel and I’m not from that country so I’m just listening to someone else’s issues here…remember the mentality we need when reading the Bible, this is for me and my heart and my life right now. So let’s break it down a bit, let’s just take a moment and think through those first few verses…isn’t this what we do.
27 Why would you ever complain, O Jacob, or, whine, Israel, saying, “God has lost track of me. He doesn’t care what happens to me”? 28 Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening? God doesn’t come and go. God lasts. He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine.
We look around at our lives and wonder where God is and if He cares at all, especially when things are not going the way we want? Again do you see what the prophet says then at the end of verse 28?
God doesn’t come and go. God lasts. He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine. He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath. And he knows everything, inside and out.
God is beyond you. He knows what is happening better than you do. God has a bigger plan than you or I could possibly understand and then in 29, 30, and the start of 31 we are again reminded of where we should go for power and energy and strength reminding us yet again that every one of us needs his strength
29 He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts. 30 For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall. 31 But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
Which lands us in verse 31 switching to the ESV now…
Isaiah 40:31 But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. ESV
Just awesome isn’t it? Now I would like to ask you some questions, so let’s slow down and take the time to reflect intentionally on this verse and these questions.
- What can you take from this passage in the moments where you are struggling to stay patient with God?
- Why would those who wait on the Lord renew the strength? How would they get fresh strength if they do wait on God?
- When you are struggling, tired, frustrated and realizing you are tired and in need of strength where do you turn to get it? Do you see where the Prophet urges you to turn? What is it for you? What do you turn to?
Before you move on from this moment, take some time and pray, talk to your Heavenly Father about what it looks like to turn to God, and to find strength in Him and hopefully you can keep reflecting on this verse as you go about your day. Grab the image from social media, put it on your phone and keep centering on it, especially if you are trying to stay patient with God’s timing in your own life, remember what Isaiah gave us today and be encouraged by it…
Isaiah 40:31 But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. ESV