| “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31). |
| Many people today do not have jobs that require physical strength, for much of our work today can be done with a computer at a desk. But our bodies need exercise to be kept in good physical shape. It is not unusual to see people jogging along the street, or perhaps in a park. Some run rather slowly, while others go at it very hard! Others go to the gym to run on treadmills, work out on other machines, or to lift weights. It is interesting that in the Greek language (the language in which the New Testament was originally written), the words translated “race” (Hebrews 12:1), “conflict” (Philippians 1:30), “combat” (Colossians 2:1), and “striving” (Philippians 1:27) are all the same word. They are all different forms of exercise in the Christian life. Sometimes the Christian life is like running a race, while at other times it is like combat, or fighting. There can be real warfare in our lives as Christians, for Satan does His best to take away our joy in the Lord. It is not actual physical fighting, but rather spiritual warfare. |
| Perhaps sometimes we feel so good that we feel almost as if we can fly, like an eagle. Eagles are not as common as they used to be, but it is amazing to watch them fly. When they fly normally, they can go about 30 miles per hour (50 kilometers per hour), but when they dive after prey, they can reach 100 miles per hour (160 kilometers per hour). But we do not always feel like this; sometimes we can only run. Yet the Lord says that if we wait on Him, we will be able to run and not get tired. We all get tired when we run naturally. Just think of how nice it would be if you could run fast as long as you wished, and you did not get tired! The Lord says that He will give us strength to be able to run as Christians, and not get tired. |
| But sometimes we feel only like walking. When I was younger, I used to like to run, but now, as I get older, I find that walking is a much easier way to get exercise. Sometimes I walk fast, but on other days I feel only like walking slowly. But even walking takes energy, and we need strength to do it. Walking a long distance can cause someone to faint. |
| I remember reading about a young man who wanted a certain piece of land, when the state of Iowa in the U.S.A. was being settled more than 170 years ago. Another young man had seen that same piece of property, and he wanted it too. The one who got to the registration office first would be able to lay claim to it. The second young man had a horse, while the first one had to walk. But the first young man walked for a full 24 hours, covering a distance of about 100 miles (160 kilometers), and got to the office first. Needless to say, he almost fainted after all that walking, but he got his grant of land! |
| But the Bible says, “He (the Lord) giveth power to the faint” (Isaiah 40:29). In the New Testament the word “faint” often has the thought of losing heart, or becoming discouraged. Whatever kind of exercise we may be capable of, the Lord will give us the strength for it. But we must “wait on the Lord;” that is, we must go to Him, and ask Him for His help. |
