Renewed Strength In Weakness

Renewed Strength in Weakness

Isaiah 40:27-31

Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567

Have you ever been in such dire circumstances that all sense of hope seemed lost? In the very epicenter of life’s whirlwind—when trials strike from every side—you find yourself utterly broken. You wish you could silence the thoughts that whisper, “Things will never get better,” or worse, “You’re a burden to everyone around you.” Maybe then, just maybe, you could see a path out of this prison of misery. But how do you wrestle with the fear that things might still get worse? What do you do with the anger—or the confusion—you feel toward God, who seems silent in your suffering? And to make the dark night of the soul even heavier, there comes that piercing realization: this storm might not be random at all. It might be the loving, correcting hand of God. The discipline of a Father who cares too much to leave you unchanged. “But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door,” God warned Cain (Genesis 4:7). And in the New Testament, the writer of Hebrews reminds us, “The Lord disciplines those He loves” (Hebrews 12:6). These aren't words meant to crush us—they’re words meant to awaken us. Could it be that what you’re facing right now is not punishment, but God’s loving pursuit to shape you into the image of Christ?

In moments like these, the questions run deep. And yet, here you are—sitting in the ashes, feeling ashamed. You, a redeemed child of God… a born-again masterpiece of grace… can’t seem to “keep it together.” Where do you turn when your strength has failed and your soul feels bankrupt? James offers a strange kind of hope: “Let perseverance finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:4). What if this season isn’t evidence that God has left you—but that He’s growing something in you that couldn't be formed any other way? Could it be that even in this darkness, there’s a silver lining? Could it be that in your weakness, God is renewing your strength?

In Today we’re going to learn that God does not renew the strong—He strengthens the weary. We’ll turn to the comforting words of the prophet Isaiah—spoken to the children of Israel during their exile in Babylon. These were a people worn down by suffering, disoriented by disappointment, and tempted to believe that God had forgotten them. Yet through Isaiah, God reminded them—and reminds us—that even in the darkest of seasons, He is still sovereign. Yes, complaining may feel like a natural response to pain, a way to rage against the bleakness of our circumstances. But when it blinds us to the truth of God’s character, it becomes sinful. It forgets that our Creator never grows tired or weary. It ignores that He is always working—patiently, powerfully, and faithfully—for the good of those who love Him. The good news is this: even in the chaos, even when we feel weakest, our strength can be renewed. How? Not by trying harder or fixing everything ourselves, but by placing our hope—fully and confidently—in Him. But could it be… that even now, in your weakness, God is preparing to lift you up—to renew your strength like the wings of eagles?

Babylon – the Pain of my Affliction

This kind of struggle isn’t new—God’s people have been here before. Though King Hezekiah pleaded with Israel to stop being “stiff-necked” and return to the Lord, many chose indifference and defiance instead (2 Chronicles 30:6–9). Years later, under King Jehoiakim’s rule, Judah’s rebellion only deepened. His refusal to submit to Babylon triggered the siege of Jerusalem —but the root of the nation's downfall was far deeper than political pride. Their sins were grievous in God’s sight:

Persistent Idolatry – 2 Kings 21:11; Jeremiah 2:11–13

Rejection of God’s Covenant – 2 Chronicles 36:15–16; Jeremiah 7:25–26

Injustice and Oppression – Jeremiah 22:2; Ezekiel 22:29–30

Shedding of Innocent Blood – 2 Kings 24:3–4

Desecration of the Temple – Ezekiel 8

Sabbath Violations – 2 Chronicles 36:21

What sins have we allowed to quietly take root in our hearts or in the church—sins we tolerate because they’re common, not because they’re holy? Though the Lord sent prophets again and again, urging repentance, they hardened their hearts. In their refusal to turn back, they invited the full weight of God’s judgment. Babylon became the rod of His discipline. And when Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, warned of what was to come, he declared that the exile would last seventy years (Jeremiah 25:12; 29:10). That… is what the wrath of God looks like.

With the words of Jeremiah’s prophecy still echoing in their ears, you would expect the exiles to respond like Nineveh—covering themselves in sackcloth, sitting in ashes, and crying out for mercy. After all, hadn’t God already given them a clear promise in 2 Chronicles 7:14?