Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on 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. Isaiah 40:30-31
Being a part of a microwave society where instant gratification is not just preferred but largely expected, the word “wait” can bring discomfort to our hearts and minds. This is especially true when things are not going our way. The discomfort of having to wait for what we need poses a threat to our faithfulness to God as patience, longsuffering, and endurance are necessary in that pursuit. Distress and discouragement can cause us to feel helpless and hopeless, making us want to give up (cf. 1 Kings 19). To guard against this danger, we must embrace the biblical position and wait on the Lord.
The underlying term translated “wait” indicates looking eagerly, hoping in, expecting, and patiently awaiting God’s blessings in His own time (BDB). This is not simply doing nothing while we await a certain outcome. It implies remaining close to God and in His service as we expectantly await His promises. This principle runs throughout the Bible, and it is attached to great promises and comfort. In Psalm 25:3, those who wait for the Lord will not be ashamed, but the treacherous will be. Psalm 37:34 promises that He will exalt those who wait for Him. Lamentations 3:25 speaks of God’s goodness to those who wait for Him. Romans 8:24-25 connects waiting in His hope with salvation. Though this is easier said than done, patience and longsuffering results in true and lasting resolution to our deepest needs.
Perhaps no other passage better describes this truth than Isaiah 40:27-31. The first thirty-nine chapters of Isaiah primarily reveal God’s impending judgment on Israel, Judah, Jerusalem, and the nations that neighbored them. Upon hearing the pronouncements of these chapters, the people of Israel and Judah would surely be filled with anxiety and fear. Having seen those pronouncements come to fruition would only intensify this anxiety while calling despair in alongside it. Thankfully, the story does not end here.
In chapter forty, God’s word through Isaiah shifted from one of judgment to one of deliverance. Though justice demanded that the rebellious nations be humbled, God still had promises that He was certain to keep, as He always does (Numbers 23:19; Hebrews 6:13-20). The greatest of these is the promise to destroy the serpent with the seed of a woman (Genesis 3:15; Galatians 4:4) and bless all families and nations of the earth through the seed of Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3; 22:15-18; Galatians 3:16). Looking forward to the fulfillment of all God’s promises, Isaiah gave the desperate captives assurance that would be necessary for them to endure the distress and continue to follow the Lord.
The Lord knew the captivity would cause many to question if He still cared for His people. Psalm 89 is a case in point where Ethan the Ezrahite pleaded with God to know how long before His wrath would subside. Had God cast off His people and with it the promises to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, and the nation? Isaiah assured the captives that the everlasting God was neither unaware of their plight nor limited in His ability to deliver (vv. 27-28). To the contrary, He supplies power to the weak and strength to those who have no might (vs. 29). Though the young and the old buckle under the pressure (vs. 30), those who wait on the Lord shall have their strength renewed (vs. 31).
Note the overwhelming supply of this strength. Those who wait on the Lord will mount up with wings like eagles as they go from spiritually collapsing to spiritually taking flight. They will run without growing weary and walk without fainting. In short, those who wait on the Lord will be thoroughly furnished the needed strength to endure in every circumstance (1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Are you waiting on the Lord?