Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for 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.

We’re in a season where I am just tired. It’s a busy time of year in when you work for a church, and, on top of that, we recently experienced a horrible tragedy in our church family. I’m tired. I feel like I just want to put on my comfiest PJs, crawl into bed, and sleep for a week straight.

‍

But, of course, I can’t do that — did I mention that this is a crazy busy season in ministry? So, what do we do when we really are just emotionally and physically exhausted? We turn to God: But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength. On the surface, this doesn’t sound like it would be very helpful. Okay, I get it, I’m supposed to wait on God, but how on earth do I take my next step while I’m waiting?

‍

The answer is in the original Hebrew meaning of wait for — it’s actually the tension of enduring. We are to endure and God will renew our strength. Okay, now this is super cool — to renew is to gain new strength, change for the better. The good news in all of this is that I don’t have to do anything. God will do it. My part is to continue to endure, and God will change me for the better. He will make me stronger and able to endure the trials, the exhaustion, the heartache, and the weariness.

‍

Not only that, but I will mount up with wings like eagles; I will run and not be weary; I will walk and not faint. I read a very interesting commentary on the order of this, flying, then running, then walking. It seems backwards, right? Wouldn’t we walk before we run before we fly? Here’s what David Guzik says, “First, we recognize that we soar up into heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6). Then we set ourselves on the course to run the race (Hebrews 12:1). Then we are in a good place to walk the walk (Colossians 2:6).”

I recently witnessed a family who demonstrated this so beautifully. They lost a loved one in a horrific way, an unexpected tragedy. This was a really good man who had his whole life in front of him, a new wife, a baby on the way, and a new home to enjoy it all in. In a senseless act of violence, this was all taken away by another human being. Why?!?

‍

By all accounts, the family had every right to be angry and bitter — mad at the world and especially at the perpetrator of this heinous crime. But instead, they were full of grace. Were they angry? Absolutely. But did they act on that anger in bitter rants or tirades? No. They actually prayed. They prayed for their daughter who lost her husband. They prayed for the young lady whose life was saved in this act of heroism. And they prayed for the person who shot and killed their beloved. Read that last one again. They PRAYED for the person who took their precious son, brother, husband, uncle, and friend away from them.

‍

I’ll be honest with you — I was dumbfounded to witness this. I honestly couldn’t understand how they were doing this. Then, I came to this verse. The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for 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.

‍

While this family sits in their grief, God increases their strength. While they sit in the “what happens next,” God gives them power. He changes them and gives them NEW strength. They soar up into the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. They run the race set before them. And they definitely walk the walk.

‍

I was not only inspired by this beautiful display of faith, I was also convicted. Am I tired? Sure. But if this family can take their next step, their next breath, I certainly can finish the race marked out for me. I too can soar on wings like eagles, and, God willing, as I submit my life to Christ, I can walk the walk.

Abba, when we have nothing left to give, You renew our strength. You know what we need before we do, and I’m so very thankful for that. God, help me to run the race set before me. When I want to give up and get lazy, remind me of this amazing family. Remind me of their strength that You granted them. Remind me that I have access to that same strength, that same power, and that same might. God thank You for loving me first. In Jesus’ name ~ AMEN!