Tap, tap, tap! I hit my pen against the table. Click, click, click! The cap of the pen flips off and on in a steady rhythm. Impatience, frustration and sometimes weariness takes on a life of its own via my pen. The journey requires patience in the waiting and a willingness to hang on and not grow weary.
On this day, as I write out these words, I seek to know God’s heart more clearly in this part of my journey. I take time to wrap my brain around Isaiah 40:30-31. How do I not grow faint or weary? What does it take to know that God’s timing is always perfect? How do I turn off the voices that tell me I’ll never arrive at my destination?
Isaiah 40:30-31 says:
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
and they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
The pen clicking subsides as I soak in God’s words. The doubts want to disappear, but the hard work is not finished. The thought of going deeper causes my fingers to twitch around my pen. I ask myself “why do I find myself in this place again and why do I grow weary when I’m running toward God”?
Questions beg for a response but God promises to answer us in His truth and in His way. Perhaps we lack a time of leaning in close to hear the answers. Maybe the questions asked do not call for answers or we prefer not to stick around for the outcome. Sometimes we even ask the wrong questions.
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But I wonder if I make things harder and instead of doing the work to go deeper, I lose hope. Instead of running the race and persevering, I somehow believe I can’t. Isaiah tells us that if we hope in the Lord we will renew our strength. In my weariness, I desire strength. I want to press on and soar but know my lack of hope requires more work.
So I dig my heels in and go back to what I know works best:
Praying specific prayers that I believe God will answer.
Giving praise and thanksgiving that God will not give up on me.
Listening with the intention of hearing God’s voice and no others.
Reading God’s Word as a source of truth and hope.
Knowing my hope comes only from God and He has a never-ending supply of it.
I pray you know where your hope comes from and on the days when you grow faint and weary, I hope you take one more step toward the strength of the Lord.
Hoping in the Lord!
Oh friend, I’ve been feeling weary lately. These words were balm to my soul.
Praying you feel God’s strength in your weariness and let Him infuse you with what you need. Blessings and hugs!
I’m waiting, hoping, and trusting with you, Mary. When our hearts are weary, it’s hard not to give up, isn’t it? I love this encouragement you give. This especially speaks to me – “Questions beg for a response but God promises to answer us in His truth and in His way.” Our Faithful Promise-keeper. His truth. His way. Love and hugs to you!
It is so hard when we run the race and feel like we are never getting where we want to go. God is faithful and present throughout the whole journey and promises to give us the strength we need. It’s okay to ask the questions isn’t it? God always answers.
I understand trying harder! And even recently felt like I needed to take a different approach as not getting the results I want! Then received encouraging words out of the blue, and God-breathed. He always knows what we need doesn’t He?
That He does! I am never ceased to be amazed by words from others via print, in person or God himself to remind me who I am and whose I am. I’m blessed that God walks this journey with us and encourages us along the way. Blessings!
It’s the hard work of faith isn’t it, Mary? Beautiful encouragement today, friend.
Yes and amen! Praying we both persevere ever closer to God.
One with you in the waiting and the hoping — and thankful that we do not wait in vain. “Now hope does not disappoint because the love of God is poured out in our hearts . . .”
Blessed to have you along my friend! Waiting is hard and not usually fun but worth the hard work of perseverance because God meets us on the other side. Hope in God leads us to strength and the ability to work hard for Him.
Mary,
So many times after I’ve tried the “try harder, try harder, try harder routine, I need to go back to the basics you outlined: Be in His Word. Pray. Listen. Give praise and thanks…and then comes the hardest…wait and trust. Oh girl, I am right there with you so often!!
Have a blessed Sunday,
Bev xx
Bev, I appreciated your recent post on this topic. Thank you to you AND to Mary for putting your moments of “pen tapping” on the table.
Sometimes common themes thread through our posts. I love those times!
I am so glad you are right with me. Trust me I need all the help I can get. Somedays I wake up so weary and know that it will be God who gets me through the day. Any time I have tried to do it alone I have not been successful. Trying harder is good but not as good as relying on God.