Waiting On God's Strength

Waiting on God's Strength

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Isaiah 40:27–31 (ESV)

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27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God"? 28 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; his understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. 30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 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.

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Big Idea: God gives His unfailing strength to those who trust and wait on Him.

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Introduction:

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In our faith journey, we often face weariness, doubt, and discouragement. We may feel as if our strength is failing, and the challenges before us seem insurmountable. But amid these struggles, Isaiah reminds us that God is always near, ready to renew our strength and empower us to overcome.

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Transition: Isaiah gives us four principles for waiting on God's strength. The first of which is . . .

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Trust God's Heart (v.27)

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"27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God?"

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Isaiah addresses the complaint of the people of Israel, who were despondent and discouraged because they felt God had ignored their prayers. Israel has suffered exile because of their disobedience toward God and now assumes God is no longer concerned with them. One commentator suggests that "the people of Jacob/Israel complain that their plans and rights are not as prominently in God's plans as they would like." This is a challenging time for them, seeing how they are God's chosen people. They are terrified that, somehow, God has placed them on the back burner. Listen to their complaint, "My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded from my God." Israel seems convinced that God refuses to see their troubles and will not avenge them against their enemies. Israel speaks as if God had forgotten and left them without His care. Another commentator suggests "that the people were bringing God down to their level, thinking him either forgetful or tired." To this, Isaiah responds that to think this way is to have much too low a view of God. He reminds them of who God is.

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The prophet Isaiah questions their audacity to suggest that God is uninterested in their plight. In previous verses, Isaiah spends time describing the greatness of God. Isaiah reminds them that no one is like God and that God is sovereign. That is to say that God answers to no one. He doesn't need permission to be God. God knows all and sees all. There is no way above God's way. God is just, and God is righteous.

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Isaiah is asking them, what do you mean your way is hidden? The point is that Israel seems not to understand that God's way should be the way they seek. They judge God as being unjust even as they complain about not receiving justice. They are impatient and fail to trust God's heart. Israel desires results now, but God is not in the practice of being pushed around and moved by impatience. God wants them to trust and love Him because of who He is. That is what this portion of the text is mandating. Trust the heart of God. Isaiah desires this nation to come to their senses and recognize that God's heart is not so cold and distant. God hears the prayers of His children. God has not forgotten nor forsaken those who trust Him.

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Illustration: As D. L. Moody said, "Trust in yourself, and you are doomed to disappointment; trust in your friends, and they will die and leave you; trust in reputation, and some slanderous tongue may blast it; but trust in God, and you are never to be confounded in time or eternity." Luther gave a similar testimony when he said, "I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess."

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Application: Likewise, you and I can trust God's heart. God does the right thing always. Maybe you feel like you are going it alone, and your prayers are going unanswered, but I assure you that God hears you. Trust God's heart and believe that God knows what is best. Ensure, though, that your prayers are in the will of God and according to His way and not your own. Have you done all that God requires of you? Are you being faithful to God? We must consider these things when we pray for things in our lives. When you pray for your children, remember that God requires that you rear them according to His standards. When you have transgressed against God, your prayer should not be arrogant but one that realizes the necessity of repentance and forgiveness. Trust God's heart enough to know that God will do what is right and just.