God has given a powerful and unshakable promise to those who have chosen to forsake the world and follow Him with total surrender:
Isaiah 40:31, ESV “…but those who wait for 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, ESV
“…but those who wait for 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.” —
This is not merely a poetic expression—it is a divine principle woven into the very fabric of the believer’s walk with God. The Lord knows the journey of salvation is not easy. As with Israel’s journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, there are mountains to climb and valleys to walk through. The road is marked by trials, opposition, and sacrifice.
In this life of faith, you may face rejection (John 15:18–19), ridicule (1 Peter 4:4), misunderstandings (Acts 26:24), contempt (Psalm 31:11), and seasons of deep lack (Philippians 4:12). You may be isolated, falsely accused, or experience personal loss (Job 1:13–19). Every genuine disciple will encounter hardship (2 Timothy 3:12).
Yet here is the mystery: true believers endure and even grow stronger in the midst of adversity. The Apostle Paul captures this paradox when he says:
2 Corinthians 4:16, ESV “…though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.” —
2 Corinthians 4:16, ESV
“…though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.” —
In the natural, hardship wears a person down. But for the one who has truly surrendered to Christ, trials do the opposite—they deepen our dependence on God. Why? Because strength is not drawn from human willpower but from a continual infusion of divine grace.
Isaiah describes the source of this strength:
Isaiah 40:28–31, NIV “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 wearyand increases the power of the weak.Even youths grow tired and weary,and young men stumble and fall;but those who hope in the LORDwill 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 40:28–31, NIV
“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 wearyand increases the power of the weak.Even youths grow tired and weary,and young men stumble and fall;but those who hope in the LORDwill renew their strength.They will soar on wings like eagles;they will run and not grow weary,they will walk and not be faint.” —
Without this supernatural renewal, no one could faithfully follow the unseen God for a lifetime. But those who truly wait upon Him—trusting His timing, leaning on His Word, and resting in His presence—find themselves continually refreshed. Their walk with God feels as fresh as the day they first believed.
This divine strength is what sets the believer apart from the unbeliever. A person without Christ may persevere in a career, education, or personal goal, but eventually they will tire, grow bored, or give up. They will say, “I need a break; I’ll come back to it later.”
By contrast, the one who has taken up their cross (Luke 9:23) finds that just when they are about to collapse, God renews their strength. The Holy Spirit revives their inner man (Ephesians 3:16).
When others expect your faith to fail, the Lord makes a way where there seems to be none (Isaiah 43:19). Some may say, “They won’t make it through the year.” Yet the years pass, and instead of drifting away, your love for God only grows deeper (Psalm 92:12–14).
If someone says, “I’m out of spiritual breath; I’ve been overcome by the temptations of the world,” it reveals that they never truly surrendered fully to Christ from the start.
The truth is, apart from the Spirit, you cannot overcome sin:
John 15:5, ESV “Apart from me you can do nothing.” —
John 15:5, ESV
“Apart from me you can do nothing.” —
You may wonder:
“If I get saved, can I remain sexually pure for the rest of my life?”
“Can I really quit alcohol, smoking, and other habits forever?”
“Can I stop going to nightclubs, avoid pornography, and abandon self-destructive behaviors?”
On your own, you cannot (Romans 7:18). But if you fully surrender to Christ, the Holy Spirit will empower you to overcome (Romans 8:13).
Before you reach the point of exhaustion, the Lord is already at your side, breathing new life into your spirit. Day by day, the desire for sinful pleasures fades until it is gone completely. This is the “grace upon grace” promised in John 1:16.
Even in seasons of sickness or affliction, He becomes your comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3–4) and your healer (Psalm 103:3). In times of joy, He multiplies your gladness (Psalm 16:11). This strength will sustain you until your race is finished (2 Timothy 4:7–8)—or until the Lord comes for His Church (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17).
For the sinner who rejects Christ, the future is entirely different. If you remain far from Him, telling yourself, “It’s impossible to live holy in today’s world,” you will likely say the same until you die in your sins.
Jesus warned:
“John 8:24, ESV I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” —
“John 8:24, ESV
I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” —
At the judgment, those from your own generation who overcame the very sins that enslaved you will testify—not to their own strength, but to the sustaining power of God (Revelation 12:11). You will have no excuse, for the same grace was available to you.
Do not let this grace pass you by. Stop calculating how to manage in your own effort. Decide today to repent. Right where you are, take a moment alone, kneel before God, confess your sins, and ask Him for forgiveness.
1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” —
1 John 1:9,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” —
When you do this sincerely, the blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse you completely (Hebrews 9:14). You will know it has happened because a supernatural peace will flood your heart (Philippians 4:7).
Then, deliberately turn from your old life—avoiding the people, places, and habits that once drew you into sin (2 Corinthians 6:17). When God sees that your repentance is genuine, He will pour His strength into you, enabling you to “mount up with wings like eagles.”
Once you have repented, take the next biblical step—baptism:
Acts 2:38, ESV “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” —
Acts 2:38, ESV
“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” —
Seek out a Bible-believing church where baptism is done by full immersion (John 3:23; Romans 6:4). Join a fellowship of strong believers (Hebrews 10:25), study the Word daily (Joshua 1:8), and maintain a life of prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17). From there, the Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth (John 16:13).
Shalom.
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