Tripping and Falling?

But the people who trust the Lord will become strong again. (Isaiah 40:31a)

I did not bring the full verse into our study this morning because I wanted to know if anyone else actually read these words and took them to heart. The rest of the verse is: "They will rise up as an eagle in the sky; they will run and not need rest; they will walk and not become tired." The thing I wanted all of us to realize is that God's people get weak, weary, and 'wasted' by life at times! We need to 'become strong again' - strength being sapped from us by what life sends our way.

We've talked about this before - the 'but' is very important. It means there was something that came before - a condition that was met. Here it is: "He gives strength to those who are tired and more power to those who are weak. Even children become tired and need to rest, and young people trip and fall." (vs. 29-30) The condition - we all get tired, and we lose our power to overcome life's challenges when we are weary. We need to rest - we can trip and fall if we don't!

Have you ever wondered why you keep 'tripping' over the same faults in your life? Perhaps it is because you have been sapped of your power because you don't take time to 'rest' in God's presence. There are seasons of rest - I call them vacation. There are moments of rest - I call them quiet times. There are seconds of rest - I call them breathers. Whatever you call them, we all pretty much realize we cannot renew ALL our energies to fight life's battles if all we are taking is 'breathers'.

I used to think I could do it all. I'd make grandiose lists of what I'd accomplish in a day and then relish in checking them all off. The day wasn't complete until the list was. Now I can make a list and lose it before I even start out! I have realized there is value in the list, but there is much more value in paying attention to what God 'puts on your list'. Sometimes we need to forgo the list and just embrace the time with God. Just sayin!