Waiting That Lifts, Not Drains

Waiting that lifts us above the swirl

Devotional Credit: Day by Day by Grace, Bob Hoekstra
Photo Credit: Unsplash

Isaiah sings over tired people. He points us away from the grind of self-reliance and toward the Lord who meets us in our limits. Bob Hoekstra captures this so well, reminding us that real renewal does not come from youth, talent, or drive. It comes from waiting on the Lord. Isaiah 40 says that those who wait on the Lord trade their weariness for new capacity. They mount up, they run, they walk, and they do not quit. That is not a pep talk. That is a promise rooted in who God is and what He gives.

We do not earn this renewal by trying harder. We receive it by looking to Jesus, trusting that His risen life is our source. Isaiah spoke to a weary nation. Today, in union with Jesus, this promise rests on God’s people as a whole and lands gently on each of us. When we admit our lack, we make room for His fullness. When we stop pretending to be strong, we discover the Lord’s steady sufficiency.

Youthful energy eventually runs thin. Personal grit finally frays. The Lord does not shame us for that. He invites us to wait on Him. Waiting is not inactivity. It is active reliance, a steady gaze toward the One who never tires. In that posture, God does what only God can do. He renews. He carries. He empowers the weary to do ordinary things with holy endurance.

So today is not about squeezing out one more ounce of willpower. It is about drawing from Jesus who lives in us by the Spirit. As we look to Him, we find a quiet surge to rise, to run when it is time to run, and to walk when it is time to walk. Thank You, Bob Hoekstra, for pointing our eyes there again.

Journal Entry - Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture

I am with you in your weakness, and I am not reluctant to be your strength. You do not need to posture as if you have enough on your own. Come as you are, and wait on Me. As you turn your attention toward Me, I renew your strength. I lift you above the swirl, like an eagle that catches the updraft. When I set the pace to run, you will not grow weary. When I set the pace to walk, you will not faint. I work in you to will and to do for My good pleasure, and I do not abandon what I begin.

Do not measure today by your reserves. Measure today by My resurrection power at work in you. I supply you according to My glorious riches. I fortify you in your inner being so that Jesus dwells in your heart through faith, and you find yourself able to keep going with a steadiness that is not your own. This is not about display. This is about fellowship. I live in you, and I carry you through tasks that once crushed you.

So wait on Me. Trust Me in the pauses and in the pressures. Set your mind on things above where your life is hidden with Christ in God. As you abide, My life flows, and you bear fruit in its season. When you feel spent, do not scold yourself. Turn to Me. I am your refuge and present support. I uphold you, and My grace is enough for this very hour.

Scripture references: Isaiah 40:29 to 31, Philippians 2:13, 2 Corinthians 12:9 to 10, Philippians 4:13, Ephesians 3:16, Ephesians 1:19 to 20, Colossians 1:11, Colossians 1:29, Galatians 2:20, Romans 6:4, Psalm 27:14, Psalm 37:7, Lamentations 3:25 to 26, Psalm 46:1, Hebrews 12:1 to 3, John 15:5, Matthew 11:28 to 30, 1 Peter 4:11

Real-Life Analogy

Think about plugging your phone into a wall outlet after the battery hits red. The phone does not coach itself into more power. It draws what it needs from a source that does not run out. You do not glare at the screen and demand more charge. You connect, you wait, and the current does the work. That is waiting on the Lord. Waiting is not passivity. It is connection. It is trusting the steady supply of the One who never runs low.

Try this today. Before a long meeting, a medical appointment, or the fourth load of laundry, pause for ten seconds and say, Lord, I rely on You. Live Your risen life through me in this task, and set the pace I should keep. Then move forward at His tempo, listening for the gentle cues of the Holy Spirit. Expect quiet adequacy, not a spotlight moment.

Prayer of Confidence

Father, thank You that in Jesus I already have all I need for life and godliness. Thank You that Your Spirit lives in me and renews my strength as I look to You. I receive Your pace and Your supply for this day. I agree with You that my life is hidden with Christ in You, and I walk from that union with a calm heart. You are faithful, and I am grateful.