FROM WEAKNESS TO STRENGTH

“He gives POWER to the WEAK, and to those who have no might He INCREASES STRENGTH” – Isaiah 40:29

Beloved in Christ, we can trust God to be lifted FROM WEAKNESS to STRENGTH: “He gives POWER to the WEAK, and to those who have no might He INCREASES STRENGTH” (Isa.40:29). This 40^th chapter of Isaiah is a wonderful song of praise to the God of creation, Who is above all, knows all, and has no equal. He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things, and the Strength of His people. Because His Power is epitomised in the Person of our Lord Jesus, Paul declared: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Eph.4:13). And again: “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Eph.2: 20-21).

This portion of Isaiah’s song was in response to a complaint that God didn’t know what His people were going through; that He was distant and uncaring. They were discouraged, having been defeated by another nation, captured, and now living as exiles in Babylon. Yet they also knew and had heard that God still had a purpose for them as a people; and that He had promised to bring them back to their home – Jerusalem. In their weariness and despair however, they wondered: Can God’s promise really be true? Is God really able to come through on it? How in the world would they ever be able to return home? Considering all this they were tempted give up and faint. In their ordeal, “even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall utterly fall” (v.30). Even the strongest among them were overwhelmed, until God’s Word came!

Israel’s situation echoes the cry of many weary people today: Where is God in my hurt? His response to such complaint may come like rhetorical questions: “Have you not known? Have you not heard?” Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?” (v.21). In other words: “Have you forgotten all you have been taught? Remember who I am”! We may face big bumps in the road of life, and feel hurt, frustrated, and angry. Things may sometimes look bleak, but we must never lose hope. It is easy to give in to the pressures and temptations that come along; but God promises strength for each day. He rewards our faithfulness as we trust in His faithfulness.

In the words of an inspired hymn: “Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!”

To move from weakness to Strength, we must keep our Hope in God, for He is above all. His understanding of His creation and His purpose in it is beyond our comprehension. We may feel abandoned or left to our own devices; but, God never forgets us. We may not understand what He is doing, but we can rest assured that He is in control. People grow weary; God does not. If we trust in God, and in His enabling Strength, then, regardless the situations we find ourselves in, nothing will be able to stop us, for His Grace is sufficient for us! His Strength shows itself most effective in our weakness (2Cor.12: 7-10). We all have moments of human frailty and weakness, distress and difficulties, struggles and tribulation, but it's in those moments when we're at our weakest and most vulnerable point, we can draw on God's strength.

Beloved, rather than worry or be weary, let’s start each day praying that God gives us the strength for the day. Then as our strength is renewed, we can walk, run, and soar by Grace. In the words of Corrie ten Boom, “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength”!