DEVOTION – DAY 410

Isaiah 40:29-31 “Hope In The Lord”

Isaiah 40:29-31 “He gives strength to the weary, and young men stumble and fall; 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.”

The prophet Isaiah was warning the Israelites about the impending threat from Assyria that was a threat to the Southern kingdom of Judah and its city, Jerusalem. Isaiah also warned of the future threat from Babylon. But against the backdrop of doom and gloom, Isaiah also offered hope to his people. Even though the people may grow tired and weary, and they may stumble and fall – Isaiah encouraged the Israelites to look to God, for their hope is in Him. 

God would strengthen them to face every challenge that would lie ahead of them. Isaiah even gave an image of eagles soaring above. It was an image the Israelites were familiar with, because eagles were supposed to be birds of great speed and dexterity. The Lord would be their source of strength. They would be able to outsmart, outrun, and overcome their opponents. They would be able to do this when the focus of their hope was in the Lord.

We know someone who was retrenched because his bosses decided to close their business. This man was worried because he had two sons. He was planning to support them through their college studies. At the same time, he was at an age when he was no longer considered marketable. Whilst he explored every possible job opening, he also committed to pray and seek the Lord’s will for him. His efforts to look for a suitable job did not bear any fruit. Instead of feeling depressed, he considered it a good opportunity for him to spend his time serving the Lord more. The Lord gave him the strength and the peace to weather this lean season. He changed his lifestyle. Instead of eating out, the family found joy in trying out new recipes at home. He put his severance pay to good use by investing it to generate some modest regular income. His sons also managed to secure scholarships that helped reduce his financial burden of supporting them through college on his own. He is able to say that he is strong in the Lord and that he is not worried about his future. He had placed his hope in the Lord.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we worship You, for You are our source of strength. Our hope is in You. Please help us to weather the storms in our lives, for we know we have hope and assurance in You always. We pray this in the great name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Questions

  1. How has God helped you through the challenges you faced last year, and what challenges do you face in this new year? 
  2. Is God your main source of hope and strength? If not, what is your main source of hope and strength?
  3. Why is having God to be your main source of hope and strength better than anything else in your life when you face life’s challenges? Discuss.