Exhausted, worn out, wasted, weary, tired: call it whatever you prefer, but everyone experiences it. And weariness is not limited to physical exhaustion. Every human has the potential to undergo emotional and even spiritual fatigue. God created us with limits and knew we would become weary; He planned for those times. The Lord reassured us He will keep us and renew our strength. Asaph wrote, My flesh and my heart may grow weak, but God always protects my heart and gives me stability (Psalms 73:26). The Lord spoke through Isaiah: The Lord is an eternal God, the Creator of the whole earth. He does not get tired or weary; He gives strength to those who are tired (Is 40:28, 29). Jesus, at the start of His ministry, gave this invitation. “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me (Matt 11:28 MSG). The Amplified Bible clarifies why the people had grown tired. They were weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace]. The Pharisees created so many rules, making it hard for people to follow them. People grew tired from trying to meet the religious leaders’ expectations.
Exhaustion can produce guilt for Christians. The Holy Spirit has taught me the freedom of living by grace. But my work-oriented training was so engrained that I still struggle when I’m not ‘doing’ something I think will please God. I feel guilt if I get weary and can’t ‘do’. We must remember God did not design us to bulldoze through life nonstop. The Lord knew this when He made the seventh day of creation a day of rest. We shouldn’t try pushing through in the flesh when we become tired. Instead, accept Jesus’ invitation, come, and let Him give us rest. Come to Me—I will give you rest (Matt 11:28 HCSB).
The Lord’s renewal also includes those we least expect to grow weary. Even youths get tired and weary; even strong young men clumsily stumble. But those who wait for the Lord’s help find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eagles’ wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired (Isa 40: 30, 31 NET). Two lessons stand out in this scripture. God expects even the strongest to grow weary; however, He will give His strength to everyone who waits.
Isaiah prefaces this promise (v28, 29) by reminding us of the Nature of God who gave this assurance. He is eternal, the Creator, and does not get tired or weary. There has never been a time when the Lord wasn’t. He existed when there was nothing but Him and will exist forever. He created everything out of nothing, having the power to make worlds with just His Word. These verses affirm the attributes of the God we serve. The Lord doesn’t get tired or weary, and He is capable of renewing our strength when we become exhausted if we trust and wait on Him.
Waiting is not passively sitting around wishing God would provide what we need; until He does, we just sit there. No, waiting on the Lord is a confident faith that is sure of what we hope for, convinced of what we do not see (Heb 11:2). Waiting is an expectant trust actively clinging to God. It teaches us we are not in control. Some will say, “You’re being irresponsible.” I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard, “Just pull up your bootstraps and get busy.” Such well-meaning advice comes from people who don’t understand; even Christians reach the point where they don’t have enough strength to lean over and grab their bootstraps, let alone the energy to pull.
They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength (v31). Renew carries the idea of “exchange”. As we wait and trust in Him, the Holy Spirit exchanges our weakness for His strength and our inability for His ability. We can soar, run, and walk after renewing our strength and exchanging our weaknesses. Scripture uses the analogy of the eagle. A recent cable program followed the rehabilitation of wounded eagles. A warden brought a severely injured adult. It could barely walk. Something had broken its wing, so it could not fly. After months of care, it had healed. Caretakers drove out to a wilderness area. One therapist lifted the eagle and tossed it into the air. It spread its wings, became airborne, and soared away into the clouds.
Paul likened life to a race. I’m running hard for the finish line (1 Corin 9: 26 MSG). The word run means “to dart, or to move swiftly.” Hebrew says, Let us run with patience the race that is set before us (12:1). Waiting will bring this renewed strength, allowing us to run again.
Finally, He promises we can walk without getting tired. Paul says living out the Christian life is like a walk. As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him (Col 2:6). If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit (Gal 5:25). Our renewal will allow us to soar or to run, but the majority of our daily life is walking. Some of our walks can be exciting; however, most will be mundane events of doing the same day after day. We need strength.
Sustaining Word for the Week: This describes my life for the past several months. The last three years have tired me physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The Holy Spirit led me to Isaiah. So, I’ve been waiting. This SW is my first step. If you are tired, be encouraged and keep waiting.