Look at the scripture preceding Isaiah 40:29:
Isa 40:28 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 inscrutable.
2Co 12:9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
Isa 41:10 'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'
Php 4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Col 1:11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously
And to [him who] lacks might He increases power.
The chapter of Hebrews 11 is a great place to be encouraged! Read what it says in Hebrews 11:33-34 about those who trusted God – “who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed [acts of] righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight”.
Where else would you find this power? God is all-powerful and able to do anything! The word ‘increase’ here is to increase in abundance, to be in authority, to excel, thoroughly. Is there any question that God cannot handle our lack of strength and that He will supply in full all that is needed?
Isa 40:30 Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly,
Consider: It should not surprise or discourage us when we grow weary or tired or fail. When we trust in our own abilities we fall short! Even the strongest of men, left to themselves, will reach their limits.
Ps 33:16 The king is not saved by a mighty army; A warrior is not delivered by great strength.
Ec 9:11 I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise, nor wealth to the discerning, nor favor to men of ability; for time and chance overtake them all.
God wants us to acknowledge Him in all things, to depend on His strength for all circumstances.
Isa 40:31 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.
Waiting… Uh oh. This is a hard one, isn’t it? Especially when we’re tired, when we want the train to stop! Waiting upon God. We want things to happen now. We want it to be better now. Patience is a learned response. Watch a young child for any amount of time and you will see a lack of patience. When we’re hungry, we want to eat now. When we’re tired, we want to stop and rest now. When we’re overloaded with difficult circumstances, we want to stop the train and get off – now!
Isa 8:17 And I will wait for the LORD who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob; I will even look eagerly for Him.
Isa 25:9 And it will be said in that day, "Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited; let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation."
Isa 30:18 Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; how blessed are all those who long for Him.
Ps 25:3a Indeed, none of those who wait for Thee will be ashamed;
Ps 25:5 Lead me in Thy truth and teach me, for Thou art the God of my salvation; for Thee I wait all the day.
Ps 27:14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the LORD.
Ps 40:1 (For the choir director. A Psalm of David.) I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry.
Ro 8:25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
This is where trust comes in. What does scripture say? Waiting on God, expecting Him to come to our rescue, looking for Him to intervene, patiently knowing He is working and will provide what is needed, will renew our strength. In fact, our strength will be more than just renewed, we will be given an influx of what we need!
They will mount up [with] wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.
“It has been a common and popular opinion that the eagle lives and retains his vigour to a great age; and that, beyond the common lot of other birds, he moults in his old age, and renews his feathers, and with them his youth.” Adam Clarke’s Commentary
Ps 103:5 [God] Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
in every attitude the praying, waiting child of God is "strong in the Lord" Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary
These scriptures beg us to answer the questions: Whom do you rely upon? Where do you go for renewed strength?
“Be it ours, then, to trust the unseen Lord, and never shall we fail. Glorious Lord, we believe; help thou our unbelief.” Spurgeon Devotional Commentary
Does this mean we won’t suffer or we won’t go through difficult times? No. But, it does mean we can trust in God’s sovereignty to lead us through to the end in a fashion that will bring glory and honor to His name as we trust in Him.
2Co 4:8-10 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
2Co 12:9-10 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
2Co 4:6-10 For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves; 8 [we are] afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
Mt 11:28-30 "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 "Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and YOU SHALL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30 "For My yoke is easy, and My load is light."
Heb 12:1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Stay on the train! God is the Engineer in control. He knows the way and He is prepared for each harrowing turn we encounter. He is the light at the end of the tunnel. He will safely lead us to our eternal rest in Him. Enjoy the ride!
