Gathered In

How God provides strength in the waiting

“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” (Isaiah 40:31 ESV).

Each day often greets us with stress and fear. Our hearts grow weary from it all—the to-do list, circumstances that don’t let up, and the effort of trying to keep all the balls perfectly balanced in the air. It’s easy to let our hearts become downcast and crumble in despair.

In Isaiah 40:31, God tells us that when we wait on Him, He will renew our strength. I know at first glance we may read the word ‘wait’ and relate it to standing in line at the grocery store or waiting on hold with the billing department. Yet the Hebrew word for ‘wait’, qavah, beautifully encompasses more than just trying to be still and patient until something changes. Qavah provides powerful imagery of being gathered up or intertwined with the Lord as He infuses His strength into us.

God doesn’t stand by with ‘on hold’ music blaring and tell us to just keep waiting. No, He binds us up into Himself with a holy, never-ending power. This gives us a spiritual posture of expectancy as we hope in the Lord and rely solely on Him to provide for us. It encourages our hearts as we rest in His truths and promises, not allowing our circumstances to knock us down or control us.

Not only does God gather us into His strength, but He mounts us up on wings like eagles. He lovingly takes us above the storms of life, away from the pressure, and lets us soar in the safety of His arms. He lifts us above our circumstances to give us a better perspective and draws us closer to the heavens to remind our weary hearts that it will all be okay.

Peace meets us in this place, and joy springs forth from our souls. This is how we can live an abundant life in the Lord—by being intentional not to let this wild world or our stress-filled lives sidetrack us from our purpose, from being present with our family, and from living faithfully in Jesus.

If you are weary from your circumstances and the state of this world—take heart. God is not. He provides us with His own strength and perspective so we can run and not be weary, so we can walk and not faint.

Praise the Lord!