Isaiah 40-41

August 2

Isaiah 40-41

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 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." (Isaiah 40:29-31, NIV)

People come and people go. Isaiah speaks of men being like grass, they are here today and gone tomorrow. It does not sound very positive until we realized that our time on earth may be short, but God has bigger plans for us. He has an eternal perspective. Though people live relatively short lives when you look at eternity, the word of God stands forever. (40:8)

People grow tired over the years. Stress and strain wears us down. We lose energy, we may lose our drive, but when we depend on God he renews and restores us. When we focus on Jesus instead of focusing on the things of the world, He increases our strength. Paul wrote; "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." (2 Corinthians 4:16, NIV)

Life wears us down. Our bodies waste away over the years, but when we lean on the Lord we can be renewed inwardly day by day. Where we put our hope directs where we put our future.