Isaiah 40:30-31 Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

As familiar as this passage is, and despite having had it as the reading just two days ago, there is still much to meditate on. Isaiah has just been reminding us of the omnipotent sovereignty of God. In verse 28 he points out that God never gets tired, and goes on in verse 29 to say that He gives power to the faint, to those who are exhausted. Here, Isaiah mentions young men, those we think of as examples of strength and energy, and reminds us that there are limits to their strength as well. Then he says, but. When we use, but, we are likely to be making excuses, but the word itself simply indicates an exception – and I had to use it to describe it! I have the feeling Isaiah had experienced the truth of this verse more than once. Every servant of God experiences times when they completely run out of strength, but then God pours His strength into and through them. Paul famously experienced that in relation to a physical ailment, and God’s response to him was epic: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) Paul’s response to that should be an example to us all: “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10) God’s power flows through us only to the degree we recognize that it isn’t our own power, and open ourselves up to allow Him to flow through us. When that happens, we indeed walk, run, and even fly in His strength, doing His will for His glory.

I had a practicum in this just yesterday. On the 30^th, we had been up late because of picking people up at the airport, but Cathy had a rough night in terms of pain, so we didn’t sleep in yesterday morning. I knew we would be up past midnight because of our Watchnight service, but I only managed to grab a 45-minute nap in the afternoon. As I commented to Cathy, “I don’t know how God is going to get me through this, but I know He will.” At 76, I can hardly lay claim to being a youth, and as Isaiah points out, even they get tired! However, God came through beautifully, and once people arrived, I was carried along by the Holy Spirit and felt neither tired nor sleepy until we were getting ready for bed around 1. We essentially slept through until 7, much later than we usually get up, and I currently feel great! I am to be a good steward of this body God has given me and I’m not to be presumptuous, but my hope is to be in my God, and not in myself or any human agency. Often that involves waiting, as this passage is often translated, but I’m getting better at that, and I know that God’s solutions are always the best.

Father, thank You for this reminder on the first day of the year. May I not forget it any day of the year, but rather wait expectantly but not impatiently for You to work Your perfect will, even in and through me, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!