Author: astherainandsnow

“But you, Israel, my servant,
    Jacob, whom I have chosen,
    the offspring of Abraham, my friend;
you whom I took from the ends of the earth,
    and called from its farthest corners,
saying to you, ‘You are my servant,
    I have chosen you and not cast you off’;
fear not, for I am with you;
    be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand…
For I, the Lord your God,
    hold your right hand;
it is I who say to you, ‘Fear not,
    I am the one who helps you…’
And you shall rejoice in the Lord;
    in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory.

When the poor and needy seek water,
    and there is none,
    and their tongue is parched with thirst,
I the Lord will answer them;
    I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
I will open rivers on the bare heights,
    and fountains in the midst of the valleys.
I will make the wilderness a pool of water,
    and the dry land springs of water.
 I will put in the wilderness the cedar,
    the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive.
I will set in the desert the cypress,
    the plane and the pine together,
 that they may see and know,
    may consider and understand together,
that the hand of the Lord has done this,
    the Holy One of Israel has created it.” Isaiah 41:8-10,13,16b-20

Position begets protection. The ‘but’ that begins this passage sets up the juxtaposition between who are are as Christ’s own, and what that means for us in a trepidatious, wilderness life. No matter what, we are named by God. No matter what, He has chosen us as His friend. We are His. We were sought, called, and pursued by Him to be His servant, secure in love-bondage forever.

As His servants, we are not guaranteed life without fear, nor free of disturbing, painful circumstances. There is no promise we will not be poor, needy, parched, bereft of fruitfulness and hope. In fact, as Jesus the Suffering Servant experienced these, we, as His children, may know them all. (Isaiah 53:3-12; Matthew 4:1-11; 20:28; 27:46; John 4:5-7; 16:33; 2 Corinthians 11:23-28; 2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Peter 2:21)

But it is in the knowing and being known, named by and belonging to Him, that we hold His hand. What bountiful provision has He given we would not otherwise know? What angst or turmoil can we bring to be smothered in His presence? In the light of His love, dismay flees! He strengthens, helps, and upholds! From the place of darkness and drought, in all these gifts we can glory and rejoice!

There is no thirst He cannot assuage, no pang He cannot comfort with His presence, no emptiness of purpose or inspiration, in relationships or hope, He cannot overcome and fill. Every call He hears and answers, every need He knows and meets. The Holy One has done all this that we might know Him! (Psalm 34:4; Philippians 4:19)

Lord, I am privileged to be Your servant. You order every dearth that I might seek and know Your fill. Keep me humbly, desperately dependent on You, rejoicing in the works of Your hand so I make Your glory known.

“The Lord comforts Zion;
    he comforts all her waste places
and makes her wilderness like Eden,
    her desert like the garden of the Lord;
joy and gladness will be found in her,
    thanksgiving and the voice of song…

Thus says your Lord, the Lord,
    your God who pleads the cause of his people:
‘Behold, I have taken from your hand the cup of staggering;
the bowl of my wrath you shall drink no more.'” Isaiah 51:3-4a,22a

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?  Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.  Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” Romans 8:31-34

“I love the Lord, because he has heard
    my voice and my pleas for mercy.
Because he inclined his ear to me,
    therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
The snares of death encompassed me;
    the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
    I suffered distress and anguish.
Then I called on the name of the Lord:
    ‘O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!..’

For you have delivered my soul from death,
    my eyes from tears,
    my feet from stumbling.” Psalm 116:1-4,8

We earthlings have so many pleas! How easy it is to interchange the two four-letter-beginning-with-P words, where pray means plea. While prayer is far more that pleading, the Lord God faithfully, lovingly envelops our every plea in the grace of His own for us. What a Savior!

He knows all about us, our inner workings, mind meanderings, snippets of jealousy, doubt, pride, and ire. He knows what we have endured, what is ahead, and what we need. We cry out from personal agony, desperate lack, and fear of what might be. Our imploring is bound by a perspective limited by temporal flesh, cultural pressure, and a sin-tainted atmosphere. Coincidentally, our pleas coalesce with the incessant intercession of the God of the universe to accomplish His sovereign will. He advocates for us, and His purposes are always fulfilled. (Psalm 139:1-16)

I plead from the pit, He from His throne. I plead seeing only impossible obstacles, He with eternal vision and already-accomplished possibility. I plead in weakness and finite understanding, He in infinite strength and wisdom, and for mine. I plead from battle, He from the side of victory.

So with every yearning and need, would we boldly claim the Lord’s providential care, His omniscience, the astounding fact that He is on our side? What is against us that God’s for is not larger and more powerful? What inner angst buffets that He in us is not greater and abler? Our every plea can turn to gladness and thanksgiving song when we call on His name and seize, and rest in, His loving, redemptive, potent, sufficient, majestic response. (1 John 4:4)

Father, teach me to bring my pleas to you in confidence that You plead Your best and highest for me, to the praise of Your glory.

“Behold my servant, whom I uphold,
    my chosen, in whom my soul delights…

And I will lead the blind
    in a way that they do not know,
in paths that they have not known
    I will guide them.
I will turn the darkness before them into light,
    the rough places into level ground.
These are the things I do,
    and I do not forsake them.” Isaiah 42:1a,16

“My soul thirsts for God,
    for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my food
    day and night,
while they say to me all the day long,
    ‘Where is your God?’
These things I remember,
    as I pour out my soul:
how I would go with the throng
    and lead them in procession to the house of God
with glad shouts and songs of praise,
    a multitude keeping festival.

Why are you cast down, O my soul,
    and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
    my salvation and my God.

My soul is cast down within me;
    therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
    from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep
    at the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breakers and your waves
    have gone over me.
By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,
    and at night his song is with me,
    a prayer to the God of my life.
I say to God, my rock:
    ‘Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning
    because of the oppression of the enemy?’
As with a deadly wound in my bones,
    my adversaries taunt me,
while they say to me all the day long,
    ‘Where is your God?’

Why are you cast down, O my soul,
    and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
    my salvation and my God.” Psalm 42:2-11

There are times when logic defies the angst of a soul. A healthy, breathing, secure, provided-for child of God, in whom His soul delights, can find himself in an emotional slough, unable to articulate reasonable reasons. Enter the loving Lord. Though we may not be able to comprehend it, He who knows our frame, every thought and pang and movement, rejoices over us with singing. How can this be? And why are we downcast? (Psalm 139:1-3,15-16; Zephaniah 3:17)

When our soul thirsts for the balm of God’s presence, and longs for relief from turmoil, fear, or loneliness, it is a good thing to express the yearning and questions. But we must remember that a personal, loving God has steered us there to seek His light, to take Him our desperation, because He’s planted in us the knowing that He is the place to go.

His soul is safe, we can hide there. His soul is good, and we can cry for its comfort. Our soul may be downcast, but His lifts us up in cherished embrace and delight. His soul sings and awakens in us new songs.

What longing, lament, or heaviness of soul can we bring under the salvation and delight of God’s today?

Good Father, unite my soul with Yours, that every sense and emotion blesses you and praises Your name. (Psalm 103:1-13)

“If you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments.., [He] will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you… Blessed shall you be in the city, and… in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle… Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.

“The Lord will cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated… [and] establish you as a people holy to himself… All the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord… The Lord will open to you his good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands… [He] will make you the head and not the tail, and you shall only go up and not down, if you… do not turn aside from any of the words that I command, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.” Deuteronomy 28:1-7,9-10,12-14

Every if-then proposition from God is backed by His righteousness, might, and sufficiency. He who is good makes clear the good way for His people. His promises are trustworthy because He is truth and does not lie. Always, always, He blesses obedience. His blessings cover a wide array of areas in life, measured with precision and bestowed from loving hands. (Numbers 23:19; Psalm 119:68; John 14:6)

The enemy deceives us into stroking alien affections, even justifying some as benign. He relishes our asserting our right to revenge, or angry retorts, our strolling the wide way that leads to curses, confusion, frustration, and destruction. What residue of self interest or promotion loiters to spoil an undivided heart? What prurience titillates an undisciplined will? What small choices lead us astray? What divine treasure are we missing because daily disobediences have become thoughtless actions and default reactions?(Deuteronomy 28:20; Matthew 7:13-15; John 8:44)

The beautiful gift of grace is that Jesus has opened to us His Father’s treasury, and we access it by the obedience of faith. Our every weakness, infraction, and horrid sin was crucified with Him to bring reconciliation and a will to obey. His Spirit helps us say no to unrighteousness and yes to Him. We access His wondrous grace and power, He equips us to discern truth, recognize temptation, and combat enemy attack. Treasure begets treasure as we enjoy the fruit of righteousness conferred by His love and mercy. (Isaiah 53:4-6,11; John 14:16-17; Romans 5:1-2; Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 1:11; 2 Peter 1:3-4)

“Oh, to grace how great a debtor
daily I’m constrained to be!
Let thy goodness, like a fetter,
bind my wandering heart to thee:
prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
prone to leave the God I love;
here’s my heart, O take and seal it;
seal it for thy courts above.” ~Robert Robinson (1758)

Lord, tether my wandering heart and mind to Thee. Keep me in Your narrow way that I might access, enjoy, and spread Your treasures abroad to a dark and needy world.

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    for his steadfast love endures forever!..

Out of my distress I called on the Lord;
    the Lord answered me and set me free.
The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.
    What can man do to me?
The Lord is on my side as my helper;
    I shall look in triumph on those who hate me…

All nations surrounded me;
    in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
 They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;
    in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
They surrounded me like bees;
    they went out like a fire among thorns;
    in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
I was pushed hard, so that I was falling,
    but the Lord helped me.

The Lord is my strength and my song;
    he has become my salvation.
Glad songs of salvation
    are in the tents of the righteous:
‘The right hand of the Lord does valiantly,
     the right hand of the Lord exalts,
    the right hand of the Lord does valiantly!’” Psalm 118:1,5-7,10-16

“You are a hiding place for me;
    you preserve me from trouble;
    you surround me with shouts of deliverance.” Psalm 32:7

“You hem me in, behind and before,
    and lay your hand upon me.” Psalm 139:5

The truth is, we are surrounded all of the time. Whether we reside in a densely populated or wide open place, distresses, ailments, temptations, people with whom we disagree or who hate everything we stand for and believe, abound and are all around. But we are also surrounded by the Lord, and our Lord is greater than the enemy and his wiles. The weight of failures and smother of life’s heat press so close we feel we have no air, yet the Lord’s mysterious and marvelous encompassing relieves and delivers and releases joy inexplicable.

Is there stress and trouble? The Lord is strong and gives relief. Is there pain or sorrow? The Lord comforts. Does fear loom? The Lord is nigh, and ever present. Are responsibilities too many to bear, and unknowns too difficult to navigate? The Lord is more than sufficient for every need. Do we face accusations and attacks? The Lord is for us, and as our Advocate defends us. (Joshua 1:9; Romans 8:31-34; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4; 9:8; Ephesians 3:20)

In this life, we will always live as wheat among tares. The enemy Jebusites will always be among us. But our King who hovers close surrounds us as our strength, song, and valiant warrior fighting on our behalf. One day He will make His victory a reality in all the world, and we can live now with assurance in that hope. Why would we faint? (Joshua 15:63; Matthew 13:24-30; Revelation 21:3-6a)

Within and out of our distress, would we call upon the Lord, and give thanks for His goodness and steadfast love in the midst? When physical enemies close in, and the mental buzz of doubt and shame drones ever louder, we can look to the Lord our Helper, and sing glad songs of His sure salvation.

Father, remind me that You keep me secure, that no matter what else presses in, You are closer still. May I ever rejoice in Your steadfast love and deliverance of my soul, for You alone are worthy of the praise.

“But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox;
    you have poured over me fresh oil…

The righteous flourish like the palm tree
    and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
They are planted in the house of the Lord;
    they flourish in the courts of our God.
They still bear fruit in old age;
    they are ever full of sap and green,
to declare that the Lord is upright;
    he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.” Psalm 92:10,12-15

“You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.” Psalm 23:5b

“For I will pour water on the thirsty land,
    and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring,
    and my blessing on your descendants.” Isaiah 44:3

Steady Spirit-inspired rhythms are beneficial and fortify purposeful living. Regular disciplines, the practice of learned truths, prudent boundaries, and consistently refined behavior are signs of spiritual health. But they can also hypnotize us into false maturity, rote answers, programmed responses, and dry output. We need fresh oil.

Has my daily quiet time grown stale? Do I stammer for answers when asked for advice, dull in recall of long-known biblical truths? Are there incidences that require specific wisdom and knowledge and I come up empty? On what habits do I rely to be adequate, yet find myself not progressing in understanding, or relinquishing pet sins, or putting away too-long-held godless attitudes? Have I grown callous to being convicted and changed? I need fresh oil.

Do I find myself snippy, irritable, or easily angered in an increasing number of situations, unable to exercise self-control? Where has lukewarm love for another diluted into disdain or apathy? What triggers my patience waning thin, or complaining growing fat? What evidence, if any, is there of the Spirit’s fruit in my daily attitudes and actions? Would my family or coworkers cite living proof? We need fresh oil. (Galatians 5:22-23)

When we come to Christ in repentance and genuine belief, we receive the Holy Spirit, who takes up forever residence in us. But cares and distractions trickle into our hours and psyches and fill us with all sorts of pettiness, fretting, frivolities, angst, and flesh reactions. We are commanded to be regularly filled with the Spirit, and He comes in fresh and abounding measure when we set these things aside and pray, and by God’s generous grace. If we desire His fresh anointing, He will give. (Luke 11:13; Acts 1:8; 2:38; 4:31; Ephesians 5:18)

“Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
naught be all else to me, save that thou art –
thou my best thought, by day or by night,
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word;
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord;
thou my great Father, I thy true son;
thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one.

Be thou my battle shield, sword for my fight;
be thou my dignity, thou my delight,
thou my soul’s shelter, thou my high tow’r;
raise thou me heav’n-ward, O Pow’r of my pow’r.” ~Old Irish, translated by Mary E. Byrne (1905)

Oh Lord, daily pour over me the fresh oil of Your Spirit, filling me to every cranny of mind and heart. May my outflow reflect Your Spirit of splendor and power, all to Your praise.

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
    for his steadfast love endures forever!
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
    whom he has redeemed from trouble
and gathered in from the lands,
    from the east and from the west,
    from the north and from the south.

Some wandered in desert wastes,
    finding no way to a city to dwell in;
hungry and thirsty,
    their soul fainted within them.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he delivered them from their distress.
He led them by a straight way
    till they reached a city to dwell in.
Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
    for his wondrous works to the children of man!
For he satisfies the longing soul,
    and the hungry soul he fills with good things…

He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
    and burst their bonds apart.
Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
    for his wondrous works to the children of man!
For he shatters the doors of bronze
    and cuts in two the bars of iron…
He sent out his word and healed them,
    and delivered them from their destruction.
Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
    for his wondrous works to the children of man!
And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,
    and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!..

He made the storm be still,
    and the waves of the sea were hushed.
Then they were glad that the waters were quiet,
    and he brought them to their desired haven.
Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
    for his wondrous works to the children of man!
Let them extol him in the congregation of the people,
    and praise him in the assembly of the elders.” Psalm 107:1-9,14-16,20-22,29-32

The redeemed of the Lord have much to say. Redeemed from trouble, from hunger and thirst and a fainting soul, from prison and affliction and the darkness of death, from foolishness in sin and the tangle of its consequences, from storms uncontrollable and the loud baffle of trouble, from wasted efforts and droughts of inspiration and hope… their hearts are full. The redeemed have been delivered, satisfied with good things, lifted from distress, released from bondage, and brought out into broad places. Their bonds have been broken, truth has set them free. They have been healed, calmed, watered, fed.

The redeemed of the Lord have much to say because the Lord has done much for them. His intentional and steadfast affection abounds, His innumerable deeds multiply by grace and power. Enumerating His works and considering His love and goodness causes thanksgiving to bubble over in loud praise.

So as His redeemed, how steeped am I in His benevolence to me? How well-versed am I in His plans and promises fulfilled through scripture, His protection and provision for His own then and now? When I speak, whether directly about Him, or any variety of topics, how does my redemption infuse my perspective, insights, and responses? Do my word choices, and messages formed, convey delight and joy in Him, gratitude for His mercies, hope from and for His deliverances? In what ways might meditation on His generous redemption change what I say, and how?

Lord, make me wise to attend to all You have done and do. You are worthy of praise, and as Your redeemed, may I continually say so to Your glory. (Psalm 107:43)

“Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord:  ‘O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God. Truly, O Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands,  and have cast their gods into the fire. For they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. Therefore they were destroyed. So now, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the Lord.’” Isaiah 37:14-20

King Hezekiah was being threatened and taunted by Assyria’s Sennacherib, whose military swagger had swept through all the nations and their lands and now targeted Judah. He understood the gravity of his situation, and sought the Lord first through His prophet Isaiah, then approached His heavenly throne directly. He knew that their means of victory was only in looking up and clinging to the might of his Almighty, the Lord of heaven’s, the enemy’s, and Israel’s hosts. His confidence was in God’s rule, and his concern God’s renown. (Isaiah 36:1-37:13; Hebrews 4:16)

God makes clear that He does not act because of our goodness or smarts, and that we’re not delivered by our own power, chariots, and weapons. Before Him we are desperate, but He is great, full of lovingkindness and mercy and able to deliver. (Deuteronomy 7:7-8; 8:17; 9:4,6-7; Psalm 20:7-9; 103:6-7)

We face opposition every day- to our resolve, our intentions, our spiritual health, our purity. Enemies ridicule biblical beliefs and tightly held convictions, and even loved ones can inadvertently foment insecurity or loneliness. Ire rises, temptations taunt, and doubts assail. Our heavenly Father welcomes us to His throne to find grace and help in these times of need. When we approach, we must come confidently on the basis of all He is and can do, but humbly acknowledging we are weak against the foe. (Hebrews 4:16)

We must seek God on the basis of His righteousness, asking according to His upright standards and trustworthy promises to His people. He always fulfills His word, even if we cannot understand His timing, order, or methods. We beseech Him according to His character of mercy and justice. We must acknowledge and trust who He is, what He knows, and that He rules over all things with perfect precision and His ends in sight. We can then exalt His goodness and power as we look for His answers and His fame among the nations. (Deuteronomy 9:25-29)

When I receive the ‘challenging letter’- the harsh accusation or vile taunt- do I quickly react or thoughtfully respond? Would I resolutely make my way to the Lord’s presence, bow in humble submission and dependence, and earnestly pray, with eager expectation, that He will act?

Lord, please answer my pleas in such a way that You perform how and what only You can, so the world may know and be humbled before You in praise.

“The Lord God has given me
    the tongue of those who are taught,
that I may know how to sustain with a word
    him who is weary.
Morning by morning he awakens;
    he awakens my ear
    to hear as those who are taught…

Let him who walks in darkness
    and has no light
trust in the name of the Lord
    and rely on his God.” Isaiah 50:4,10b

“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
    and cry to her…
    that her iniquity is pardoned.” Isaiah 40:1,2b

“Blessed is the man
    who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
    nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and on his law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2

“Praise the Lord!
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
    who greatly delights in his commandments!” Psalm 112:1

The LORD GOD, covenant-keeping Sovereign, has given us the gift of conveying His word. He’s faithfully, consistently instilled truth to be real and relevant and powerful in our life, and made our mouth to speak. He never intended we use the mind apart from the tongue. We are not to take in and never give out, not to absorb yet never refresh. He’s given treasures of darkness not to hoard for ourselves, but to bring them into light. (Exodus 4:11; Isaiah 45:3; Luke 6:38; Galatians 6:6)

When He awakens us to His instruction and revelation, have we been alert and careful to store up treasures new and old? What particular life lessons have we learned, practiced, honed in our journey with Christ that could be helpful to another? What deep truths have become ours through unique experiences, growth in faith and understanding of God’s ways and character? How diligent are we at seeking out those who need encouragement, and stepping out of comfy company and crafted schedules into needy lives to offer God’s word? Would we generously take from all the riches entrusted to us to offer living water to satisfy His children? (Matthew 13:52; James 1:22)

Ability and willingness to bring comfort, truth, and light to God’s people takes morning by morning- regular alone time- to listen keenly. It takes saying no to the world, more sleep, and distractions in order to meditate on and apply and store up the wisdom of God’s word. It requires being open to His teaching, correction, rebuke, conviction, and filling. It flows from taking delight in His life-giving and -changing word so it permeates our reason and perspective. (2 Timothy 3:16)

What are we doing with the storehouse entrusted to us? Where are we casting Christs’s living bread upon the waters, among those with whom we work and live, so they can taste and see He is good? Are we attuned to the weary, and willing to offer the time and appropriate words to them, to build up, console, strengthen? (Psalm 34:8; Ecclesiastes 11:1; 1 Corinthians 14:3)

LORD GOD, keep my ear alert to Your voice, daily to listen and take in every nugget of the word You prescribe. Teach me discernment, mold my heart aright, and embolden my mouth as Your emissary to speak truth in love and spread light in darkness, for Your glorious sake. (Ephesians 4:15)

“Blessed be the Lord,
    who daily bears us up;
    God is our salvation.” Psalm 68:19

“You who have made me see many troubles and calamities
    will revive me again;
from the depths of the earth
    you will bring me up again.
You will increase my greatness
    and comfort me again.” Psalm 71:20-21

“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.
He gives power to the faint,
    and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Even youths shall faint and be weary,
    and young men shall fall exhausted;
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.” Isaiah 40:28-31

“Listen to me, O house of Jacob,
    all the remnant of the house of Israel,
who have been borne by me from before your birth,
    carried from the womb;
even to your old age I am he,
    and to gray hairs I will carry you.
I have made, and I will bear;
    I will carry and will save.” Isaiah 46:3-4

There is nothing when feeling low, or under weight of care, like the promise and experience of being borne up. Hope springs eternal when gravity breaks and light above shines. The sense of being supernaturally lifted and carried, with chin tilted upward, is both mysterious and of deepest comfort.

“You, O Lord, are a shield about me,
    my glory, and the lifter of my head.” Psalm 3:3

So why do we wallow in circumstances? Why do we live so low? Why do we give up when weary, or surrender so easily when challenged? Because we trust our own strength, and it is fickle, and runs dry. We push on and press forward while our tank depletes, thinking too highly of our flesh capacity and too lowly, or too little, of God’s might. We neglect being filled with the Holy Spirit, when it is needful every day. (Ephesians 5:18)

How many failures will it take to acknowledge our need to be borne by Jesus? What insecurity, what arrogance, causes us to disdain asking for spiritual guidance and power, or refuse help and prayers offered on our behalf? It is one thing to be worn out because of diligent work performed whole-heartedly according to God’s call, and something very different to plow ahead on our own, self-fueled and puffed with pride, and end up exhausted. It is always worth it to wait for the Lord, and to act in His strength.

When is my time for daily renewal? How honest am I in confessing my lack, weakness, and need for grace? When I am drained, and faint, would I look to and get in step with the One who never is? (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Lord, may I not weary in doing the good You assign, but flourish in Your daily sustenance so You receive all the glory. Now to You who are able to do far more abundantly than all that I ask or think, according to the power at work within me, to You be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Galatians 6:9; Ephesians 3:20-21)