“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 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; they will run and not grow weary and they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:29–31

Fainting Christians?

Is such a thing possible? Are such people real Christians? Are not saints believers who trust in the Lord and His promises? Doesn’t David say that with His God he can jump over a wall and run through a troop? Paul can do all things through Christ who strengthens him. And what a spiritual giant Job is. Standing by the ten coffins of his children, as it were, he makes the immortal confession, “The Lord gave, the Lord took away, blessed be the name of the Lord.”

However, the Bible also gives other descriptions of God’s people. Not because these other descriptions are examples for us. They aren’t. But they give encouragement to toiling Christians by showing how people needed faith and the power of Christ. I see Elijah under the juniper tree, saying, “It is enough now, O Lord, take away my life.” Jonah says, “It is better for me to die than to live.” And Jeremiah is so discouraged and depressed that he wishes the Lord would discharge him from his duties. Also Job, after his confession, later asks why he didn’t die from the womb, and why light (and life) is given to him that is in misery, who vainly longs for death.

These are all weary and fainting Christians. Fainting indicates lack of strength, being exhausted. It implies having traveled a difficult way of toil, hard labor and tears, and, as a result, lacking the energy needed to continue. Christians may become so discouraged and weary that they tire of life itself.

This was the plight of the Israelites when they languished in Babylonian exile. They had the promises, which God.‘s people always have. But the fulfillment of the promises did not seem to be forthcoming. God was waiting so long. Undoubtedly many Christians in persecution today must feel similarly weary and discouraged. How long will this last? When will relief come?

Many Christians are afflicted with physical disabilities, with “thorns in the flesh,” with burdens and almost unsolvable problems. For a time one seems to be able to bear these loads, but to continue to endure and be patient is more difficult. While at one time an affliction may not seem too heavy, at another time it may become crushing.

We may experience weariness and exhaustion in fighting the battles of faith. (Sad to say, many church members know little of this.) There are struggles of personal faith, as well as struggles of the church against falsehood, secularism, materialism and spiritual lethargy. There are the battles of which Paul speaks, against principalities and powers of evil. There are battles against “the old man of sin.” Those who fight the hardest in these conflicts are naturally also the people who at times become discouraged. People who don’t work don‘t become tired, and people who don’t fight spiritual battles don’t become spiritually weary. But those who do know weariness.

The weary is inclined to say or think, “My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God.” It often seems that the Lord is disregarding him.

Notice how the Lord answers this kind of complaint. “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth, He will not grow weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.”

Notice that these words are part of the beautiful 40th chapter of Isaiah. Few passages in the Bible speak more eloquently of God’s exalted greatness and majesty. Considering that, we, His people, must not try to understand Him or analyze His way with us. He is the Transcendent One, the Creator, far above every creature. To show His greatness the prophet contrasts Him with things observable on this earth. Who has measured the waters, the oceans, in the palm of his hand? We can, at most, hold one or two tablespoons of water in our palms, but God measures the oceans in His hands. The heavens whose greatness we measure in millions upon millions of miles He measures with the breadth of His hand. The massive mountains He weighs, as it were, in His scales. All the nations of the world are only as a drop on the outside of (not in) a bucket. Who would notice the drop of water on the outside of a bucket? All of the people of the world are only like one little grain of sand. With what can He be properly compared? Isn’t it the height of presumption for a little man to make an image of wood or stone of that Great God? Lift up your eyes to the sky, on a clear night, says the prophet, and count the stars. To God they are all known and each occupies the place assigned by Him. Who can fathom the understanding of this God? How then can Jacob (and we with him) say, “My way is hidden from the Lord?”

It is our calling and privilege to “wait on the Lord.” That is the way in which the Elijahs, the Jonahs, the Jobs, indeed, all of God’s people receive renewed strength and courage.

Why does the order to “wait on the Lord” occur so often in the Bible? Because God wants us to do it, it is so important for our spiritual lives, and we do it so little. It is difficult for us to look to God alone for help. Waiting on Him alone implies realizing our own weaknesses and looking away from ourselves. We often think of the Church as depending upon God and us. We are either in the driver’s seat taking God with us, or we will let God steer and direct, but we want to be back-seat drivers. No wonder that the Lord often has to place us in straits in which nothing human can help us so that we are compelled to learn and relearn to wait on Him alone and leave our problems to Him.

To those who “wait on the Lord” He gives unbelievable power and blessings. Using the example of almost tireless creatures, the prophet Isaiah speaks of the young man and the eagle. Young people do no seem to become tired; nothing seems too taxing for them. And no other bird can soar throughout the skies for hours at a time like an eagle. Such tireless endurance is promised to those who “wait on the Lord.” Although this may seem contrary to our experience, God’s promise stands. When we wait on Him, although there may still be difficulties, we are not overwhelmed, for inner strength is given.

Eternal, Infinite Lord, give me more of the simple faith that waits on Thee alone.