“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.” (Isaiah 40:31, NIV)
The Hebrew word for “wait” or
“hope” here is qāwâ (קָוָה). It is not passive waiting or idle
wishing—it is active trust. To qāwâ is to lean on God, to cling to His
promises, to endure with confidence because of who He is. It is like a traveler
waiting for a guide—not wandering off, but staying alert, ready to follow when
the guide appears.
This matters because human
strength eventually fails. Isaiah reminds us that even the young—those in their
physical prime—grow weary and stumble (40:30). If the strong grow tired, how
much more the aged, who feel the weight of lost strength, grief, or limitation?
Yet here is the beautiful promise: God Himself will renew strength for all
who wait on Him.
Notice that the renewal is not
about reversing age or restoring youth. It is about God’s divine enablement—new
strength, new endurance, new joy—given to those who trust Him. To “wait” is to
anchor in His character, surrender self-reliance, and keep persevering in the
life He gives. For some, that may look like soaring with renewed vision and
boldness. For others, it may mean steady walking without fainting, even through
loss or weakness. Either way, the strength comes not from within, but from Him.
Applications
- Anchor in God’s Character
Recall His past faithfulness in your life. Just as He has carried you before, He will carry you now. Waiting means fixing your hope on the unchanging God. - Release Self-Reliance
Don’t push through in your own effort. When weary, turn to prayer. Hand over your burdens and let God’s Spirit supply what you lack. - Live with Perseverance
Keep walking forward in faith, even in small steps. For the aged, that may mean mentoring, praying, or testifying of God’s goodness. For the young, it means resisting burnout by depending on God, not your own strength.
Short Prayer
Lord, thank You that Your strength
never fails, even when mine does. Teach me to wait on You—to trust, to
hope, to endure with confidence in Your promises. Renew my strength today. Help
me to walk without fainting, run without growing weary, and soar in faith as
You carry me. May my life, in every season, reflect Your sustaining power. In
Jesus’ name, Amen.
Practical ways to wait/hope on God in daily life:
1. Wait with Prayerful
Dependence
- Bring your needs, fears, and desires to God
honestly.
- Instead of worrying or rushing to fix things
yourself, keep laying them before Him.
- This keeps your heart tethered to His presence.
Example: When anxious about
a decision, pray, “Lord, I don’t want to rush ahead. Give me clarity in Your
timing.”
2. Wait with Scripture in Hand
- God’s promises fuel hope. Waiting isn’t wishful
thinking—it’s standing on what He has said.
- Meditate on passages like Isaiah 40:31, Psalm
27:14, or Lamentations 3:25–26.
- The Word reshapes your perspective and strengthens
your trust.
Example: When discouraged,
read Psalm 27:14 aloud: “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and
wait for the Lord.”
3. Wait with Obedience in the
Present
- Waiting doesn’t mean doing nothing. It means doing
the next right thing God has already shown you.
- Be faithful in today’s responsibilities, even if
tomorrow feels uncertain.
- Trust that as you obey, God will open the right
doors at the right time.
Example: While waiting for
a new job, keep working diligently in your current role and serving others.
4. Wait with Surrendered Will
- Sometimes waiting feels long because we’re secretly
clinging to our own timeline.
- To wait well means to release control, trusting
God’s timing and wisdom over our own.
Example: Instead of saying,
“God, do this now,” pray, “God, do this in Your way and Your time—I trust You.”
5. Wait with Expectant Hope
- Expectation honors God. When you believe He is good
and will act, you wait with joy instead of despair.
- This doesn’t mean demanding how He must act, but
being confident that whatever He does will be best.
Example: Like a farmer
waits for rain, keep preparing your “field” (life, relationships, calling),
trusting that God will bring growth.
✅ In summary:
Waiting/ hoping on God is not idle—it’s:
- Praying instead of worrying,
- Meditating on His Word instead of leaning on
feelings,
- Obeying daily instead of stalling,
- Surrendering control instead of striving,
- Expecting His goodness instead of doubting.
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