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. (NAS) Isaiah 40:31
Except for the Garden of Eden, never in history has man escaped troubles, suffering and trials. Oftentimes the world seems to be without meaning or purpose, but God promises the people of Judah, as well as Christians today, that He will give hope, strength and comfort to those who trust in Him. But, the key to receiving God’s strength is revealed in Isaiah 40:31. Isaiah states that those who hope, or wait in the Lord, are the ones who renew their strength. But, “waiting” as used here, is not meant to suggest a neutral position. The verb means to wait with confidence, in expectation, trusting in God.
Waiting for men is difficult. In a society where instant gratification is expected, it is against human nature to patiently wait. Instead, we try to make things happen in our own way, by our own doing. But, as Christians, waiting on God is the rule, not the exception. We must learn to accept the fact that it takes time to grow and become the product that God desires for us. As David tells us in Psalm 62, we should wait in silence, in stability, and in confidence, which comes only from God.
The Hebrew word to “wait” is “qavah,” meaning “to bind together,” perhaps by twisting. It is by twisting ourselves around God’s strong nature that we ourselves receive strength and confidence in Him. We do not possess these traits ourselves, but God makes them available to those who wait and hope in Him. In return, God promises to “renew their strength.” The Hebrew verb used here for “renew” means to “exchange power or strength,” indicating that God will exchange man’s weakness for His strength.
Are you in a waiting mode? Are you waiting in silence, in stability, and in confidence? or have you given up hope? Try “twisting” yourself around God’s strong nature and in turn, receive His strength!
