27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God"?
30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
31 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.
When people are going through tough times three things seem to be of great help: to know someone's listening, to know there is a greater purpose to this temporary situation, and to be given strength to carry on. Isaiah 40 starts with a pledge to speak comfort to God's people when they were going through very tough times. It provides a picture of God's awesome soveriegnty, his limitless knowledge and power and a contrast of His greatness against our insignificance.
In this great contrast it would easy to assume our trivial lives are far too insiginificant for the one who 'stretched out the heavens like a canopy' (v22). But this isn't the case. Even though by contrast even whole nations are 'regarded as worthless' (v17) when Isreal and Jacob are heard to complain that God pays no regard to their cause the response is clear. God doesn't grow tired, even of hearing our issues. His understanding is unfathomable and He strengthens us in our weakness.
So much of our current culture is set up such that those with great need never get an audience with those who have the resources to meet that need. Not so with God. He is beyond measure, His resources limitless, His counsel beyond refute. But He engages with our lives. He gives power to the weak. Don't let His humility to reduce Himself to our level cloud our realisation that His power is immense. But, don't let His immense greatness lead us to believe He is not interested in our lives.
But how does His strength come into our lives? The passage leads to a song I am very fond of 'strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord'. But the language may be less than helpfull in todays modern world. How does one 'wait upon the Lord'. Different translations give different ideas but the Amplified bible captures many of them as "those who wait for the Lord (who expect, look for, and hope in Him)".
When my strength is feeling spent and extinguished it's time to ask 'where is my hope?' For when my hope and trust is in Him his promise is to renew my strength and give me fresh wings to soar with.
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