He gives power to the tired and worn out, and strength to the weak. Even the youths shall be exhausted, and the young men will all give up. But they that wait upon 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 40:29-31 TLB)

I don’t know about you, but I know what it’s like to be tired and worn out! I know what it’s like to be weak. I know what it’s like to be exhausted and want to give up. But, I also know what it’s like to receive strength from God! I have been tired from addiction.  I’ve been worn out with hate.  I’ve been exhausted with worry and stress. I have felt, at times, I was carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders. Life can be challenging at times.  Some difficulties we bring on ourselves and others we don’t; either way, God is our source for comfort, wisdom, and strength.  “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength” The word wait, in the Hebrew, is fascinating.

קָוָה qâwâ; a primitive root; to bind together (perhaps by twisting), i.e. collect; (figuratively) to expect: — gather (together), look, patiently, tarry, wait (for, on, upon).

AV (49) – wait 29, look 13, wait for 1, look for 1, gathered 1, misc 4;

to wait, look for, hope, expect

I love that the root of the word means to bind together!  What’s incredible about that is Jesus said when we are yoked with Him, He takes our burdens and gives us rest. 

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

(Matthew 11:28-30 NIV)

We find rest for our soul, rest for our mind, peace for our situation by connecting and/or binding ourselves together with Jesus.  How do we bind ourselves or connect with Jesus? Well, first by His promised Spirit.  Jesus said for us to come and learn of Him, and we find rest! What is one of the things the Holy Spirit does? 

But the Helper will teach you everything and cause you to remember all that I told you. This Helper is the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name.

(John 14:26 ERV)

He’s a helper indicated by His name, and He’s a teacher who also helps us remember what we have been taught!  So the Holy Spirit gives us rest for a burdensome or troubling situation by reminding us of the precious promises of God, given and taught to us by Him! He also comforts us with His peace! The same Helper! 

“I leave you peace. It is my own peace I give you. I give you peace in a different way than the world does. So don’t be troubled. Don’t be afraid.

(John 14:27 ERV)

So, by binding ourselves together with God by His Spirit through His Son Jesus, we can expect God to do what He says and give us strength. Wait, in Hebrew, also means to look to God with hopeful expectation! We hope in God because we know He comes through for us, and He helps us get to the place we need to be in Him! 

Are you tired, worn out with fear, worry, anxiety? Are you stressed over something? Do you struggle with addiction and exhausted with the reoccurring battle? Do you struggle with negative thoughts about yourself?  Whatever it may be, there is help! There is hope! And when we look to our Maker and God of our salvation, we can count on Him to give us what we need to have strength! 

“But they that wait upon 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.”

Do you need God to renew something in your life? Do you need refreshing? Then look to Him, and He will provide! He provides strength like an Eagle. One thing Eagles can do is soar high and have a great perspective of what’s below. When storm winds blow, they can spread their wings and ride the resistance.  They get to rest in storms because the wind holds them up! Maybe you need the wind to hold you up right now. You need rest because the struggle has been challenging and real. Well, the Holy Spirit wants to do just that for you! 

Come to me, and I will give you rest!