The prophet Isaiah tells us God ‘energises those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts. For even young people tire…folk in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, they run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind’ (vv. 29-31 MSG). When an eagle is on the ground it’s vulnerable to attack by predators like snakes and wolves. On terra firma its surroundings are a fixed reality the eagle can’t change. So what does it do? It rises above them! From the air, everything looks different. The eagle’s altitude transforms its attitude – and that can happen for you too. ‘Those who wait upon God get fresh strength.’ Here are two illustrations of what it means to wait upon God: 1) Like a wide-winged eagle waiting for a thermal current to carry it heavenward, you must stay in God’s presence with your heart attuned to Him. Do you have duties and demands? Yes, but none as important as this. Why? Because you understand that if you don’t get into God’s presence and stay there until He refreshes and restores you, you won’t make it. 2) Like an attentive waiter at a fine restaurant, whose only aim is to please, you wait on God, sensitive to His voice and surrendered to His will. Have the pressures of life left you drained? Watching television may entertain you for a while, but it won’t restore what life takes out of you. Only God can do that, so learn to ‘wait’ on God.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.