Isaiah 40:28-31
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives strength to the weary, and to the one who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, 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.”
Thoughts from Pastor Brian
Dive Deeper
Behind the Scenes
I love the picture of God that the prophet Isaiah paints for us in this passage. Isaiah reminds us of just how big, how wonderful, and how strong our God really is.
Isaiah was writing into a time in history when many in the culture believed that war and conquering were just as much about the deities of the people at war as it was about the people themselves. Often when a people group was conquered, they would abandon whatever deity they worshiped before in favor of the deity of the conquering tribe or nation, believing that the victory was won because that group’s deity was stronger and more capable than theirs. The people’s view of the gods was that they were much like mortals with weaknesses, limitations, strengths, and faults.
But Isaiah sets the record straight about the One True God. He points out that the true God is everlasting, that He is the Creator of all the earth, that He doesn’t get tired, and that His wisdom is more than any other. He is essentially tearing down every misconception that the people could have had about God in light of the cultural view around them. He is making the very clear statement, “My God is the real deal, unlike any false god you have heard of, and better than you can ever imagine!”
Make it Real
So, how does that apply to us today? Well, we may not label them deities, but we have our own false god’s that we turn to all the time. Anything that we are looking to for our worth, our strength, and our identity is a false god in our lives. And often we are just as fickle as the people of Isaiah’s time. We follow our false gods only so long as they are the strongest. When something else comes along that accomplishes the goal better, we throw them over for the next best thing.
But what that results in is the same outcome it always has- we find ourselves weary, tired, and scared. We have no hope and no firm foundation to stand on. We find ourselves, our identities, and our security tossed about on the changing winds of instability. Like the people of Isaiah’s time, we need the God who is everlasting. We need the God who cannot fail, who doesn’t grow weary or tired, and whose wisdom knows no end. We need the One True God.
And when we do turn to the Lord, we who are weary and tired, will be strengthened by the God who has more than we could ever need. He promises to sustain us and renew our strength.
See, in the end we need the true Savior. Nothing less will do. We need the Savior who is bigger than anything we could ever face. We need the Savior who is more than enough for us.
Crystal Garnett
ACF Digital Discipleship Team Lead
End in Prayer
Hey God!
I feel weary and tired. But Your Word promises that You will give me what I need to keep going. So, today, I’m trusting in You, in Your strength instead of my own, in Your wisdom instead of my own. Today I’m believing that You’re enough, that You have a plan, and that You’re with me no matter what.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen