The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
He gives power to the weak
and strength to the powerless.
Even youths will become weak and tired,
and young men will fall in exhaustion.
I stood at the edge of the sink holding my breath as if I had expected a different outcome. Another month had passed, another negative test result. I shook my head with feigned indifference. If I pretended like I did not care then I could shake off the disappointment one more time and get on with another day. But it had been days stacked on top of days, and I grew tired in the waiting.
Two years had passed since we had begun trying to have a baby, in a season when we were still grieving the sudden death of our beloved brother. He had lost his fight with a war that waged within. Grief and hope so often share one space. It is what we do with the paradox that makes a difference.
I slumped against the wall in the bathroom. My head dropped, and for a moment my soul succumbed to discouragement. “How long, Lord? I’m so tired, I don’t know if I can keep going like this.” Longing sits like a weight in a weary soul. It wraps itself around the heart until every breath feels like labor.
When there is nothing left you can do, you realize how powerless you are to change a situation. What happens then? I had so many questions, so much I could not understand. Why the waiting? But God is not on my timeline. He is the creator of all things that were and things that are yet to come. He does not fret or grow tired. God is always working on behalf of those who seek him. Take courage, O my soul, and do not despair. The Lord will give strength to those who hope in him.
Wait
Verse of the day: ISAIAH 40:31 (NKJV)
Have you ever read a verse from the Bible that seemed to come alive? This can happen with a verse you have read many times before. Suddenly the scripture becomes a living, breathing source of strength that speaks life into a situation you may be facing.
One thing that makes a verse speak is the choice of words the author used in the text. We see a word in context that holds a certain weight and we seek to understand its meaning.
How to use this word study
We will read the verse of the day in our Bible. Then we will clarify our understanding of the key word (see above) using a Concordance, Word Study bible, or English dictionary. If you do not have these resources, no worries! Helpful tools online include BlueLetterBible.org and Dictionary.com.
Look up today’s verse. Have a pen and paper ready. We will work through five steps.
- Write down the Bible verse.
- Find the key word and circle it.
- Look up the definition of the word (notice how it is used in context).
- If you are reading from a different translation of the Bible, which word is used instead?
- Underline where you find a promise. Find the heart of this verse and mark it with a heart shape.
(Click here for How to Use a Word Study.)
Meditation
What does this verse reveal about God’s heart? How does this truth refresh your soul? Turn this into your prayer today.
Please leave a comment below to share something that touched you in today’s devotional.
Follow this series
You are reading part of the 31 day series from Weary to Worship. To see other days click on Write 31 Days 2017 from the top menu. Before you go…I have carefully curated a special guide to accompany you in this series.
{Click here to download your free guide}
