By Dr. Rev. J. Loren Russell
“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:28-31 NKJV
This past Wednesday, I wrote the following passage in my “Scriptural Inspirations” column; “If you’ve ever grown weary and tired of doing what the Lord has designed for your life, rest assured that whatever the Lord has bought to you, He will give you the strength to successfully see it through to the end. Never ever lose your faith!” I was moved to write those words to stress the need for unwavering faith. I responded to a news report of a New York City police officer who committed suicide. I thought, “there are a lot of people who need to be encouraged.” Tragically, the same day that was published, another news report told of yet another officer who had taken his life.
The interesting thing in the scripture above is how clear the writer makes it that no one is immune to life’s trials, tribulations or challenges. Even youth share in the vicissitudes of life. It is this commonality of life’s trials and tribulations that reveal the unsearchable compassion, love, and direction of our Lord and Savior. I know for a fact that things going well for you does not mean that life’s challenges are any less overwhelming. The scripture says those who trust in their own strength will be consumed and utterly fail. But when all hope is gone and you think you can’t go on, there is someone who gives strength to the weak.
“Have you not known? Have you not heard?” Surrounding the heartaches of life is the Creator, the one who never sleeps or naps. He is the one who gives strength to the weary and hope to the hopeless. While my heart and prayers go out to the families of those two officers and the officers of the NYPD, this scripture reminds me that God knows how much we can bear. When we’re at our weakest, He puts wings on our backs so that we can soar; He gives strength to our legs so that we can walk; and He puts speed in our feet so that we can run! If we can just wait on the LORD, He will renew our strength so that we mount up with wings like eagles, run and not be weary, and walk and not faint.
Don’t ever lose your faith.
Be Blessed +++
Rev. J. Loren Russell, associate minister at both Goodwill and The Greater Universal Baptist Churches in the Bronx, President/CEO of The JLR Company for Church Financial & Strategic Consulting, host of “Matters of Faith – The Radio Show” on Soul 1 Radio, Monday’s 8:00 – 10:00 PM (626-226-1448), author of Matters of Faith: The Book.
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