Why Wait?

You know the verse. It's one of the most familiar illustrations in Isaiah. Maybe even in the whole Old Testament.

"They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not grow weary; they shall walk and not faint." Chapter 40 verse 31.

I always picture an eagle in flight over vast mountains, soaring in the heavens, proud and free. It paints a picture of what we shall be like as we wait on the Lord. But why is waiting the prerequisite to taking flight? Why not, say, "those turn away from idols shall renew their strength." Or, "those who serve the Lord shall renew their strength." Or, better yet, "those who trust in God shall renew their strength." Why did Isaiah use the word wait? It's so...odd.

I think the answer is found in the rest of the chapter. Isaiah 40 is a personal favorite of mine, and for many of you I'm sure. Who can forget this from verse 12: "Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and marked of the heavens with a span." The whole chapter is recounting the glory of God, and the splendor of His power. "To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with him?" That's from verse 18. Isaiah goes on to explain a craftsman that makes an idol, takes it from a tree, slathers it with gold, and then people bow to it. Blatant idolatry; the worship of something created...a tree for crying out loud!

Verse 22 says that the inhabitants of the earth are like grasshoppers. Verse 23 says that he brings princes to nothing. Verse 26 tells us to look on high and ask ourselves who created it all. Verse 27 asks us why we think our way is hidden from God, as if He didn't know what we were doing. Then, oh joy, we get to this particular passage. Drum roll, please.

"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 (like we do), his understanding is unsearchable (ours is nothing.) He gives power to the faint (that's us), and to him who has no might (me and you) 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 grow weary, they shall walk and not faint."

We, like all frail human beings, will eventually run out of our own strength. Every single time. Are you tired of fighting sin on your own? Are you tired of the way you forget to study Scripture, or you don't even forget, you choose not to? Are you tired of living at home, submitting to your parents, going to school, working, praying, reading...the list goes on. Might I propose that the reason you are tired of all of that is because you are relying on your own strength to get you through. You say, "NEXT time I will pray before I go to bed."

"NEXT time I will not argue with my dad when he tells me to do something."

"NEXT time I won't yell at my little brother for using my CD."

You say those things with really good intentions, and you might even believe it, but how do you get the strength to do it? How do you get the strength to do the every day things, the mundane chores, the will and desire to do right? How do you get the strength to do really big things, like evangelize to unsaved friends, family and strangers? Or how about go to college and remain upright and pure? Or how about keep yourself only for you husband, when everyone you know thinks your crazy and says that you are missing out?

Wait on the Lord, and He will renew your strength. It's almost like Isaiah is saying, "Wait and watch our mighty God act in your life! See how powerful He is! Can't he then work in your life as well?"

Then, and only then, will you have the strength of character and will to "take flight" like an eagle. The whole purpose of Jessica, Julie and I in writing on this blog is to tell you things that we did wrong and right in our own lives, in the past and currently, to help you remain faithful. It's hard. We feel the pull of the world, and lies that the Devil tells us, to give in and rely on our own strength. But you know what? As a Christian, we don't have to give in. Isn't that glorious? God Himself gives His children all that we need for life and godliness, as promised in Scripture.

We invite you to come and take flight with us, as we delve into the daily struggles we face.

--Janelle, on behalf of the Taking Flight team