Isaiah 40:31
“But those who wait on 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.”

The Psalmist declared we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). The implication is that we were designed by God and everything about us is purposeful. We are the way we are, not by accident, but by design. God created us with weaknesses so we would have to rely upon His strength. One of those weaknesses is the fact that our bodies, like a motor, run out of gas and need to be recharged. No matter how strong we think we are, we get tired. Obviously, there are natural things we can do to “recharge our batteries.” At the end of each day, or perhaps even for a short period in the midst of it, we sleep. During that time the body has a way of strengthening itself. What looked impossible when we were tired, seems to be a whole lot easier with a fresh set of eyes. What we often forget is, in addition to rest, God has designed us with a need to wait on Him. He promises if we do, we will receive new strength which enables us to accomplish what He designed us to do.

Waiting on the Lord is more than being patient for God to act. It involves spending time with Him, as well as being involved in the work of God. Think of it this way, to wait on the Lord, is to set aside time to pray and read the Bible. Prayer gives us an opportunity to take our needs to the Lord. I am able to examine my life, see the things that are difficult and lay them out before God. Jesus taught us to pray without ceasing until we receive an answer. Bible reading allows me to hear the voice of God. It is too common among Christians to pray, without taking the time to look into the Word for answers to our prayers. His Word is like a lamp designed to light the path we are supposed to walk. Sitting before the Lord, laying out my struggles, and looking into His Word for answers, will provide strength to the weakest of Christians.

There is perhaps another concept involved in waiting on the Lord. Think of the last time you went to a restaurant. You were seated, a waiter approached you and began to serve. He probably took orders from you, and sought to fulfill those orders in a timely and efficient manner. Drinks, bread, appetizers, and the main course, were delivered to you. When you were done, he even cleaned up the mess. Waiting on the Lord does not mean we do nothing else. Sometimes the best way to be strengthened in the work is to get involved in the work. Jesus was so weary he could not continue the journey with the Twelve into the city to purchase lunch. Instead, He sat by a well and rested. It was there, Jesus met a woman and shared the Gospel with her. Upon their return, the disciples found Jesus was fully rested. When they encouraged Him to eat, He explained that serving the Father was like food, strengthening Him from within (John 4:6-34).

If you are weary, don’t neglect waiting upon the Lord as your number one source of strength.

Pastor Jim