“But those who trust in the Lᴏʀᴅ will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31 (NLT)

I left the Zoom meeting and raced out of the house, hoping to stop at Target to pick up a gift to bring to my lunch appointment.

As I sped into the store, I got a call from my caseworker. She wanted to discuss some concerns regarding our foster son. I talked with her while quickly getting what I needed and then plugged the restaurant’s address into my phone.

The ETA revealed I was going to be late, and I hate being late. With thoughts of my foster son and my tardiness invading my mind, I found parking and realized the meter required me to download an app on my phone and enter payment information. Whatever happened to good old quarters in a meter?

I hurriedly completed the task, slammed the car door and began walking to the restaurant. Then it hit me — I forgot to grab a face mask. Since this happened during the COVID-19 pandemic and the restaurant had a mask mandate, I couldn’t enter without one.

So I ran back to the car and then searched my pockets for my key. It wasn’t there. I peeked into my vehicle and saw it on the passenger seat.

After my husband brought me a spare key, I finally arrived home later, exhausted physically, emotionally and mentally.

I’ll bet you’ve had days like this, too — maybe even weeks or months of weariness. In these situations, I crave my favorite creature comforts — watching television, eating ice cream, or scrolling through social media to distract myself from fatigue and frustration. None of these things are inherently sinful, but I wonder how my soul is affected when I make a habit of comforting myself with methods of escape that aren’t necessarily healthy.

An Old Testament prophet named Isaiah addressed the need to turn from counterfeit comforts in order to receive God’s genuine comfort. The original audience of Isaiah’s message had tried to bring God down to their level by thinking of Him as weary or forgetful. We can also be in danger of reducing our magnificent God to our human frailties. Many of us can relate to doubting whether God sees or intervenes during our times of weariness — or even in more significant times of distress when we grieve losses, experience betrayal or encounter difficult circumstances.

Isaiah used these questions to remind Israel of God’s character: “Have you never heard? Have you never understood?” (Isaiah 40:28a-b, NLT). In essence, he was saying, “Don’t you know who your God really is?” God is the everlasting Creator of the whole earth. He doesn’t get weary like we do, and the depths of His understanding can’t be measured.

Isaiah ends Chapter 40 with this encouragement: “But those who trust in the Lᴏʀᴅ will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

Some Bible translations use the word “wait” while others use “trust” to describe those who will find new strength. If we are trusting, waiting and hoping in the Lord, our counterfeit comforts lose their luster.

Isaiah makes a case that it isn’t duty but delight to experience God’s comfort. I don’t want to swat at my bad habits, willing myself to stop watching television or eating ice cream, but rather enlarge my view of the Lord so it deepens my belief. This is how we move from surface-level behavior modification to heart-level transformation.

When you have a weary day or season, I pray you will trust in the Lord to renew your strength rather than reaching for remotes or refreshments. Our creature comforts may provide temporary distraction, but they will not restore our souls. God knows all about long meetings, unexpected phone calls, keys locked in cars, and the more significant losses and frustrations that lead to your exhaustion. He calls you to trust Him for the power and strength you will never find in counterfeit comforts.

Lord, You are the everlasting God, the Creator of heaven and earth. I’m so glad You never grow tired of my constant need for Your strength. I get frustrated and weary often, and I need You. Help me to remember how big You are — especially in my moments of fatigue when I think temporary distractions are the answer. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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In Melissa Spoelstra’s new seven-session Bible study, Isaiah: Striving Less and Trusting God More, you’ll learn to rest in God’s promises and grow in trust. Unpacking Isaiah’s words will reveal you can trust God more than your own human effort or the counterfeits the world suggests. You won’t be striving harder but instead trusting more deeply in the Faithful One who is so worthy of your utter dependence. In Him you’ll find the comfort and peace you need to sustain you.

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FOR DEEPER STUDY

Isaiah 40:10-11, “Yes, the Sovereign Lᴏʀᴅ is coming in power. He will rule with a powerful arm. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes. He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.” (NLT)

The Lord reveals Himself as having a powerful arm to rule yet using that same arm to carry His lambs close to His heart. As you consider your own weary seasons, how have you experienced God’s comfort?

We’d love to hear from you! Share your responses in the comments.

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