Some of us know the verse very well: “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31, KJV).
Waiting is one of the most challenging disciplines in the life of faith. Most of us are not gifted that way. It challenges our heart, tests our endurance, and reveals our reliance on God’s timing instead of our own. Isaiah’s promise does not deny the difficulty of waiting; it acknowledges it. Yet it offers something far greater: divine renewal for those who refuse to rush ahead of God. Waiting upon the Lord is not idle time; it is sacred time, where trust is cultivated and strength is restored. It is the posture of a believer who knows that God’s timing is never late and His purposes are always wise.
The word “wait” in our reference text conveys a sense of hopeful expectation. It means leaning toward God with anticipation, confident that He will act. This kind of waiting is grounded in relationship, not resignation. The one who waits on the Lord refuses to rely on human strength, for human strength eventually fails. Instead, the believer draws from God’s endless supply. As we wait, the Lord exchanges our weakness for His power, our fatigue for His endurance, and our despair for His hope. The renewal promised is not momentary; it is continuous, as long as we keep waiting on Him.
The imagery of eagles rising above the storm teaches that waiting lifts us into a higher perspective. While circumstances may swirl below, those who wait on God learn to soar above them with renewed vision. But the promise does not end with soaring. It includes running without weariness and walking without fainting. God gives strength for every pace of life, for mountaintop moments, for long seasons of perseverance, and for ordinary days that require steady faith. Waiting becomes the doorway through which God empowers His people for every stage of the journey.
The grace of waiting lies in what happens within the heart. God uses waiting to deepen trust, sharpen spiritual vision, and strengthen endurance. It is often in waiting that believers learn that God is faithful, present, and attentive to every detail. And when His answer finally comes, the heart is not only grateful for the fulfillment but transformed by the process. Waiting is not wasted when placed in God’s hands. Instead, it becomes the very means by which He renews, restores, and prepares us for what He has ordained. May the God of all grace teach us how to wait on Him.
