God Will Give Strength
Winston Churchill led Britain to victory in World War II. Yet in 1945, he faced a crushing defeat as he sought to remain leader of Britain. Seeking to console him, his wife, Clementine, suggested it was a blessing in disguise. Churchill replied, "If so, the blessing is very well-disguised."
Have you ever felt like that in your life? If not, just keep going to bed at night and waking up in the morning! Under God’s wise, providential hand, life inevitably brings dangers, toils, and snares that leave us wondering, "Lord, what good can come from this?” (Psalm 119:71).
Isaiah 40:27-31 offers great comfort for those difficult times. Isaiah 40 is a turning point in the prophet's message. Chapters 1-39 warn of impending judgment on God’s rebellious people. By chapter 40, the assumption is that Israel has been defeated, their armies overtaken, and Jerusalem captured. Now, Isaiah delivers a new message:
“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem and proclaim that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for” (Isaiah 40:1-2).
While the chapter primarily promises future deliverance, its closing verses offer hope for the meantime. The message is clear: God will give you strength if you trust Him in your time of weakness.
Originally spoken to comfort Israel as they waited for the Messiah, these words still encourage us today as we wait for His return. We live in troubled times and are called to serve in difficult circumstances.
Yet, we can be sure that God's strength is real, available, and sufficient. Those who trust in the Lord must spiritually ambidextrous—learn to hold trouble in one hand and blessings in the other, knowing that all things work together for good (Rom. 8:28).
This passage tells us that God will give us strength if we:
1. Remember to Worship Him Alone (Isaiah 40:27-28)
Verse 27 records the complaints of the people: "Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, ‘My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God’?" They felt as if God had abandoned them. Have you ever felt like that? As if God was hiding from you just when you needed Him the most? Isaiah acknowledges their feelings but does not affirm them. Instead, he rebukes their complaints: "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth" (Isaiah 40:28).
Isaiah is not revealing new information but calling them to remember what they already know. God is not hiding; they are looking in the wrong direction. They need to look up and remember who God is. Isaiah reminds them that God is eternal, not bound by time. Moses declared in Psalm 90:2, "From everlasting to everlasting, you are God." God’s timing is always perfect. He may not come when you want, but He is always on time.
Not only is God eternal, but He is sovereign. He is the Creator of the ends of the earth, meaning He reigns over all places. Wherever you are, He is in charge. More than that, God is omnipotent. He never grows weary. Human resources are limited, but God’s strength never runs out. He is also all-wise; His understanding is unsearchable. Even when life is chaotic, God knows what He is doing. His wisdom is perfect, His ways beyond our comprehension. We must trust in Him.
2. We Acknowledge Our Weaknesses (Isaiah 40:29).
Verse 29 declares God's given strength: "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak."
God is not stingy with His strength. He is willing to share it. But there is a condition—you must acknowledge your weakness.
The idea that "God helps those who help themselves" is not biblical. Scripture teaches the opposite: God helps those who admit they are helpless. Any attitude of self-sufficiency disqualifies you from divine help. To receive God’s strength, you must first acknowledge your weakness (2 Cor. 12!).
We are not as strong as we think. Life can change with one phone call, one letter, one doctor's visit. C.S. Lewis said that the person who asks for God and other things has nothing more than the person who has God alone (“The Weight of Glory” book). No matter what you lack, if you have Jesus Christ, you have all you need (Gal. 2:20).
The story of King Uzziah also serves as a warning to us. He reigned for 52 years, marvelously helped by God—until he became strong. When he trusted in himself, God struck him with leprosy. He died alone in an isolated house, a tragic reminder that self-sufficiency leads to downfall. Contrast that with the Apostle Paul, who declared, "When I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:10). True strength comes from depending on God.
3. If We Wait on Him (Isaiah 40:30-31).
Many struggle with waiting on God. We live in a fast-paced world, but God's timing is different from ours. Psalm 27:14 urges, "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Galatians 6:9 promises, "Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
God will give you renewed strength: "But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength" (Isaiah 40:31). If you trust God in your weakness, He will exchange your weakness for His strength. The alternative is in verse 30: "Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall." Human strength fails, but those who wait on the Lord receive sufficient strength.
Faith Lessons
#1 - Worship instead of worry (1 Peter 5:6-8). Keep your eyes on God’s faithfulness rather than the uncertainty around you.
#2 - Acknowledge your weakness (2 Cor. 12--again!). God’s strength is best displayed when we admit our need for Him.
#3 - Be patient in transition (Psalm 27:13-14). God’s timing is perfect, even when it feels slow to us.
#4 - Trust God’s promises (Psalm 68:19. His Word assures us that He will renew our strength when we rely on Him.
#5 - Move forward in faith (Acts 18:9-19). Even in uncertainty, take steps of obedience knowing God is leading the way.
This season of transition is not a time for fear—but a time for faith. God’s promise to strengthen those who trust Him is just as real today as it was for Israel. May we rise up on wings like eagles, run this race with endurance, and walk forward in faith, knowing that God is with us every step of the way (Heb. 12:1-3).