Isaiah 40:31: “but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Of what few memories I have left of my childhood, one of the better ones was something that was unique to only the summer months. I’m from St. Louis, Missouri, and the summers are pretty miserable – hot and VERY humid. I can remember playing outside – back in the days when boys actually played outside. I would be playing baseball or soccer, but then I would hear in the distance the approaching of one of my favorite tunes. That tune was “Pop Goes The Weasel.” What that meant was the ice cream truck was in the area. I would run inside and either get my own money or beg my parents for money to get some ice cream. I’d come back outside and stand in great anticipation of the truck coming and delivering something amazing.
Many of you may have similar recollections, but you’re probably wondering what this trip down memory lane has to do with our memory verse?? For me, the key word in this verse is “hope.” Other Bible versions use the word “wait.” The Hebrew word that the translators are translating is “qavah.” It translates to waiting with, or with eager expectation. The AI on the internet interprets it well, “It signifies an active, tense anticipation for God's intervention. It means relying on God's strength rather than one's own, as one waits for the fulfilment of His promises.”
Did you ever read this verse as a promise? That’s exactly what it is. As I thought about the LORD’S heart behind this promise, I found myself asking how much of my faith do I live in anticipation, or expectation, to God not only renewing my strength, but also giving me the ability to serve Him beyond my imagination? Other than at times when I’m writing or preparing a teaching, I must confess I don’t live anywhere near like this. I let the distractions of this life become barriers to fully receiving this promise. To be fair, some of the distractions in my life, and I would imagine each of you have some as well, are very real. Things like dealing with health issues, relationship challenges, and financial concerns hit each of us at one time or another. Please know I’m not attempting to diminish the seriousness of these – they can be very real, painful, and even frightening.
The thing is, I don’t see any preconditions to the promise in this verse. I don’t read anything like, “If you’re life is free from burden, then this applies.” A promise is a promise, and God is a promise keeper. Please allow me to summarize and conclude this devotion with a brief poem.
Renewing our strength when we are weak
Is what our beloved LORD promises to give.
Our salvation is to be a testimony to Him,
And a foundation for a better way to live.
Those who can only walk, won’t grow faint.
Those who can run, will not grow weary.
Those who test the boundaries of faith -
To soar with an eagle will not be a theory.
Anticipating God’s desire to bless those
Who choose to trust in His holy name -
If we respond to this promise He offers,
Imagine how our lives would change?
Lord, help us to live in eager anticipation
Of Your promises that You always keep.
Show us how to trust to get to the point
We can soar with the eagles via belief.