Strength Beyond Our Own

Isaiah 40:31

but those 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.

Last year, I wrote about this verse as I cleared out my office, retiring after four decades of teaching. Physical exhaustion from moving books and furniture gave me a tangible understanding of what it means to have our strength renewed, like replacing depleted batteries with fresh ones.

Today, I grasp an even deeper meaning of this promise. As I provide round-the-clock care for my severely disabled daughter during a nursing shortage, exhaustion has taken on a new dimension. Last week alone, I spent 84 hours in her room during the night shift, on top of my regular daily responsibilities. This tiredness doesn’t go away with a good night's sleep or a weekend of rest.

In these moments, I've discovered that God's promise in Isaiah isn't just about physical renewal – it's about supernatural sustenance. When Isaiah writes about soaring like eagles, he doesn’t mean we'll never feel physically tired. Instead, he's promising that God provides strength beyond our natural capabilities for spiritual exhaustion when we place our hope in Him.

Young people may grow weary, as the earlier verses acknowledge, but those who hope in the Lord find a different kind of strength. It's not always dramatic or visible like an eagle soaring overhead. Sometimes it's simply the quiet ability to put one foot in front of another, to remain standing when everything within us wants to collapse.

What amazes me is how God's strength often manifests not in changing our circumstances, but in sustaining us through them. When I feel I cannot possibly manage another sleepless night or face another challenge, His strength becomes most evident in my weakness.

This promise isn't about mustering up more human effort. It's about surrendering our exhaustion to God and allowing His strength to work through our limitations. Whether you're caring for a loved one, facing chronic illness, or battling emotional fatigue, God's promise remains: When we place our hope in Him, He provides the strength we need for each moment—not from our reserves, but from His infinite supply.

Let’s pray.

Father, thank you for the strength that you give us to face our challenges. We all have challenges in this life, and they all can exhaust us. May we recognize our own limitations, and draw on your resources to sustain us and bring us joy. In the name of Christ, Amen.

This devotional was written and read by Donn King.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.