Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary. ~ Isaiah 40:31
Are you tired? Are you a little weary?
The fatigue of our busy days pales in comparison to a woman’s fatigue from two thousand years ago. When she was nine months pregnant, her government insisted she travel 75 miles to her husband’s hometown! She spent her Christmas Day in a barn. It’s likely she endured labor pains a good portion of that day. What’s more, some unexpected company—shepherds—showed up for a visit that night. Mary must have felt nearly exhausted.
If you have entered the middle-aged years of life, physically you know you will never feel like a teenager again. If you are in your senior years, you understand you will never have the stamina you once enjoyed at the age of 30. Plain and simple, age tires us out.
Sin does the same to us spiritually. King David spoke of the burden of sin: “My bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. . . My strength was sapped as in the heat of summer” (Psalm 32:3,4). The lures of this fast-paced world, untiring temptations, and our weak flesh seek to wear us down spiritually. We need to be renewed!
At Christmas time, the Holy Spirit draws our eyes of faith to the child in the manger. The Spirit also points our eyes farther down the road to Jerusalem, where we see the Savior’s cross of love. There he invigorates our sin-laden spirits with his message of forgiveness and peace with God. That’s true spiritual renewal…and it works! The Scripture proclaims: “Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary” (Isaiah 40:31).
Lord Jesus, renew my faith with the peace of forgiveness that you gained for me through your sacrifice on the cross. Thank you for coming to be my Savior. Amen.
Living Hope Church 