“They shall renew their strength”

One of the sports I love is 4 by 100m relay race.The interesting part to me is the transfer of baton from the incoming runner to the outstretched hand of the outgoing runner.The former is expected to thrust the baton into the hand of the latter and not let go until the outgoing runner takes the baton.While the incoming runner must have become fatigued by the time he is handing over the baton,the outcoming athlete picks up the race with a new vigour and pace.

In life’s race,while some stumble on the way,some mistakenly drop the baton and are unable to pass it on.While others walk instead of running,some run and become faint on the road.But there are some people that are not fatigued at all!

Let’s go into God words:

“Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
 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 40:30-31a

Life’s race is not by brain or brawn! Neither is it by being strong and mighty! Many mighty men become weak and frail in the race of life.Many youths that are expected to run disappointedly fall on the track and drop the baton.

But the Bible says that :

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew /châlaph/ their strength.

châlaph means exchange,change,to pass on

When you wait on the Lord you are like the tired and fatigued incoming runner that passes on the baton to an outgoing runner that has a new strength.At that point,there is an exchange of weakness with strength.

Those who hope in the Lord shall exchange their fatigue with God’s strength.

They shall change their weakness with God’s strength.

They shall pass on the baton to God who gives them the strength to finish the race strong.

Little wonder Paul says:

“For when I am weak, then I am strong”-2Cor 12:10b

Those that trust in their power, youthfulness and strength look at those who wait on God with amazement because they don’t know where their strength is coming from:

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak”-Isaiah 40:28-29

They do not know that you may be in the same race with them but you draw strength from a different source! You draw your strength from God who does not grow tired or weary,while they draw their strength from their own strength that is limited.

People may not see the difference until everyone in the race becomes tired and weak but you stand out among the runners.

The situation they think will ruin you is making you stronger!

The disappointment that should draw you back is making you run faster than a cheetah!

Even the devil doesn’t understand you again!

The secret is simply this:

“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 40:31

Everyday,your weakness is exchanged with God’s strength for as long as you wait on Him.

Shalom