When waiting means continuing to serve

“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.” (Isaiah 40:31)

In verses 29 and 30, God says even youths, who usually have tons of energy, get tired, become weak, faint, and exhausted, probably meaning both literally and spiritually, and promises to empower us.  If we wait for the Lord, he will refresh and revive us with new energy and vigor, to soar, to run, and walk with him.

But what does it mean to wait? This is an instant now culture, so we don’t much like that part too much. But m-w.com tells us waiting is more than patience, it is staying where God has planted us, continuing to serve him as he has previously instructed us, and looking to him expectantly to keep his promise and give us the strength we need to carry on. That requires trust, that requires faithfulness, and pressing on when we feel like giving up.

Strange to think that waiting can actually mean we keep moving, but the key is not running ahead of him, but continuing in our previous marching orders until we hear from him again. But waiting also means listening for his voice and obeying when the call comes to rest in him.

Lord, we grow tired and weary and we feel like quitting and giving up. Give us rest for our souls and spirits in you when we need it. Open our ears to hear you, transform our hearts to desire to obey and wait upon you. We choose to trust you today. Grant us the self-control we need to resist the fallen flesh and rise up in the spirit and behave like you today. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.