Simple Thoughts Simple Prayers
Thoughts, Reflections, Inspirations, and Prayers
Simple Thoughts Simple Prayers
Trusting God's Power in Our Weakest Moments
Ever found yourself gasping for air, both literally and metaphorically, as you push through life's challenges? Join me, Walt, as I recount my unexpected journey from being a high school basketball enthusiast to a reluctant track runner, and how this experience opened my eyes to the timeless wisdom of Isaiah 40. You'll hear about my sprinting mishaps and how they mirror our own struggles when we rely solely on our abilities. Through personal anecdotes and profound scriptural insights, we'll explore how God’s strength is perfected in our weakness, offering a comforting and transformative perspective on humility and dependence on divine power.
Listen as we unpack the powerful messages from Isaiah 40 and 2 Corinthians, discussing how God renews the strength of those who actively seek and wait on Him. Discover the promises of rising above life's hurdles and finding renewed vigor, just as I did when I learned to trust beyond my own capacity. This episode is a blend of personal stories, spiritual reflections, and practical wisdom aimed at helping you navigate your own path with a renewed sense of strength and hope. Get ready to be inspired by the assurance that with God's power, we can indeed run without growing weary and walk without fainting, mounting up with wings like eagles.
My brothers and sisters Walt here with simple thoughts and simple prayers.
Speaker 2:Today we'll be covering the passage of Isaiah 40, comfort for God's People. I used to be a basketball guy through and through. My high school years were a blur of jump shots, rebounds and my coach's infamous battle cry Get on the line. Literally one practice. Someone passed gas and coach walked right through it after tasting somebody's lunch. He got upset. Hey, who did that? Get on the line. After a season with him I could probably sprint a marathon with ease. So when basketball season ended one year I thought, hey, maybe I'll hit the track to stay in shape. Classic rookie mistake.
Speaker 2:The first warm-up lap, my jog to everyone else was a sprint. They looked like a herd of gazelles trying to keep up with the cheetah. The track host must have seen something in me, or maybe he felt sorry for the kids gasping for air as I stood unaffected. Next thing, I know I'm in the starting blocks ready to run a mile, a mile Me, the guy who was just trying to burn off the fried chicken from the night before. As the starting gun cracked, I bursted from the blocks feeling like I was flying, or at least I thought I was. The whispers of other coaches carried on the wind as I sprinted towards the far end of the track, their laughter echoed clear as the sweat stung my face. Basketball player huh, yep. Then it hit me my clunky basketball shoes, a glaring mistake. Perhaps it was my awkward start or difficulty breathing that gave me away. Either way, exhaustion was already creeping in and I was not looking forward to the three laps looming ahead.
Speaker 2:In Isaiah 40, some of the verses read he gives power to the faint and to him who has no might. He increases strength. Even you shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted. But they 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. After explaining all the greatness and glory of God, isaiah explains another benefit we can receive from our God.
Speaker 2:One he gives us his great power. God specifically strengthens those who are weak and dependent on him. To those who have no might, he increases strength. Those who are proud and confident in their own wisdom and strength will receive no strength from God. In the words of Jesus, whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Even the youth shall faint and be weary. Let's just say I showed no signs of humility starting that race off. In addition to that, I was relying on my own strength. Those who trust in their own strength eventually find themselves exhausted, just as I was. God's strength is restored for those who know they are weak and know they have no might. For example, Paul mentioned his weakness in 2 Corinthians 12.9.
Speaker 2:But he said to me my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weakness, insults, hardships, persecution and calamities, for when I am weak, then I am strong. But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. How do we receive strength from the Lord? We receive it by waiting on him. This doesn't mean passively sitting around. I worked hard that year to get my breathing patterns right so that I could run a better race next time around.
Speaker 2:God does give us strength, but it isn't transferred into us while we're idle. We find strength as we actively seek and rely on him rather than our own abilities. Our weakness stems from our failure to wait on the Lord. We are also told that we renew our strength. It is strength that is received when we first come to the Lord in weakness, with no might. That strength is renewed as we wait and continue to trust the Lord. The power we receive is ongoing.
Speaker 2:As the Lord continually renews our strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles. This is the measure of strength. The Lord gives us. Strength to soar above everything else. God's power enables us to rise above all challenges and limitations. They shall run and not be weary. He shall walk and not faint. This is the purpose of the strength the Lord gives us Strength to move forward, progress. For him, it isn't strength to show off, but strength to go forward. And God's power propels us forward without exhaustion, empowering us to fulfill his purpose.
Speaker 2:Weak and faint in the Hebrew means failure through loss of inherent strength, and weary in the Hebrew means exhaustion because of the hardness of life. Whether overwhelmed by life's difficulties or inner struggles, god offers strength through waiting on him. Whether life's difficulties drain our strength or our inner resources fail, god offers renewal through waiting on him. The image of being mounted up with wings like eagles paints a vivid picture of a loving father tenderly caring for his child. This powerful metaphor conveys the extraordinary support and strength God's provides, just as an eagle tirelessly watches over its young learning to fly, our Heavenly Father is always present, ready to catch us when we are flattered. He lifts us above our limitations, empowering us to achieve the impossible In our moments of struggle and doubt. Let us remember His unwavering love and trust in his ability to carry us through any storm. Let us pray.
Speaker 1:Heavenly Father, we thank you for a new day. Lord, god, we thank you for your grace. That is sufficient for us.
Speaker 2:We pray that you would continue to allow us to wait on you patiently, to be still and know that you are.
Speaker 1:God Lord Would you, protect us and would you bless us, god? Would you give us strength as we wait, would you allow us to walk and not be weary? Would you allow us to run and not faint? Lord, we thank you for all that you do for us. Pray that you would continue to bless us day by day. It's in Jesus mighty name we pray, amen.