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 40:31, NKJV.
Father in heaven, thank You for another day of life, for eyes to see You lifted up in all Your magnificent glory, keeping watch over Your children in a world enveloped in chaos and pain. Give us hearts to empathize and sympathize with those who need our kindness. Give us voices to speak of Your love for ALL people, everywhere. We ask this in the Holy Name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.
For the past four days we have had the opportunity to talk about the promises that are made to those who are willing to wait on the LORD. Today, I would like for us to take some time and give further consideration to Why these promises are so important in every aspect of our lives; physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.
The last two days we learned that those who wait on the LORD neither get weary nor faint. During COVID-19, many individuals, Christians included, have become weary and faint, and not without a cause. What we have witnessed and experienced have been excruciating, to say the least. As conditions seem to be improving, many are hopeful, but some are still asking, what was the purpose for all of this suffering?
Let me share with you for a brief moment, a verse in the book of the Prophet Jeremiah, that might help to shed some light on that question.
” ‘If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, Then how can you contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, In which you trusted, they wearied you, Then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan’ ” (Jeremiah 12:5, emphasis supplied)?
The experiences that God allows to come into our lives, are never to destroy us. If we can remember this, we will have peace, “not as the world gives,” but the kind of peace that only Christ can give us (John 14:27).
Oftentimes, through difficult, and at times, devastating experiences that God allows us to live, He is warning us of areas in our lives that need strengthening, before the storm arrives. He has already warned us that His thoughts are not our thoughts, nor our ways, His ways. So at times the answer we get from God does not bring satisfaction, at least, not in foresight.
Here is God’s prophet crying out to God about the difficulties he is facing. At first it may sound as if God is being insensitive to His servant. But if we listen carefully, we will hear that God is actually saying to Jeremiah, “Things will get worse, before they get better my child, so Prepare!
Nobody wants to receive a message like that from the Lord, but in hindsight, we realize that “to be forewarned is to be forearmed!” It does not keep the storm from coming, but it helps you to be prepared in order for your boat to withstand the storm!
By His grace, we can turn our lamenting into preventing! And our fainting into standing (Ephesians 6;13). So wait on the Lord – He loves you!