WORDS FOR THE WEARY

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.  (Isaiah 40:25-31)

I’m wore slap out!  For those who may not understand southern mountain language that means I am extremely exhausted!  Whether we knew the expression, we certainly know the experience.  Maybe you are weary and worn this day.  Your get up and go got up and went!  I have good news.  Isaiah has some words for the weary to reenergize us.

The first word is EXHAUSTING (v.29-30).  This is a word about weakness.  It isn’t enough to see the symptoms and diagnose the disease—we need a cure for the hectic schedule and heavy stress life brings.  You won’t find a cure until you admit the cause.  The hectic schedule will drain us.  Running wide open, full-throttle, event after event, deadline after deadline, multi-tasking—all the while notifications going off on your phone—if you can check them between replying to e-mails, sending texts, and fielding calls!  There are no margins, no sacred pauses to catch our breath.  Did God mean for us to live that way?  With that comes the heavy stress that depletes us.  Chronic pain, on-going sorrow, financial hardship, family misery, crushing disappointment—life can be unbearably heavy and takes its toll physically, emotionally, mentally, relationally, and spiritually!  We cannot carry such schedules and stresses by trying harder.

The second word is EXCHANGING (v.31a).  This is a word about waiting.  The word, “renew,” can be translated, “exchange.”  The Hebrew word pictures an eagle molting—shedding its old feathers for new ones that the regal bird may continue to fly.  It isn’t just that you need to change some things in your life, but that you need to exchange who you are in facing these pressures for all that Jesus is in overcoming them.  I learned as a child in a song, “[We] are weak, but He is strong.”  So, rather than trying to strengthen myself, I surrender to Him.  Let Jesus be Jesus in you!  We are invited to exchange our ignorance for His wisdom and our impotence for His power.  The key word is, “wait.”  The promise of power is conditional.  We must stop setting our agenda and stop to seek His.  We must still our soul before God—feeding on the Word and meeting Him in prayer—a daily quiet time.  We must rest in Him by faith. I can’t, but He can!

The third word is EXCELLING (v.31b).  This is a word about wings.  We are promised that if we surrender our will and submit to His work we can soar on eagle’s wings!  Soaring above, “They shall mount up with wings like eagles.”  Eagles rise on thermals—hot air currents lifting them.  The very pressure cookers of life can cause the heat, that if we spread our wings in faith, will not remove our problems, but enable us to rise above them!  Speeding along, “They shall run and not be weary.”  Life is a marathon and we can race to win if we load up with Bible truth, so as not to, “hit the wall.”  Stepping ahead, “They shall walk and not faint.”  There is a time to run, but also a time to walk—still there is progress day by day.  The key is to learn to say, “For this I have Jesus!”  He is enough—no, He is more than enough!