By Lisa Wilmore
Scripture: 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 tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 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, they will walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:29-31).
My Dear Friends,
Recently, I attended a graveside service for a family member of a friend, and witnessed the heaviness of individuals who attended. Surely, this is what one would expect at a graveside service-heaviness of heart, sadness, disappointment, powerless or weakness, etc. However, I observed and felt a different type of weariness that protruded beyond the weariness that one may feel during a funeral or even a graveside service for the transition of a loved one. There was more in the atmosphere than the sadness of seeing a loved one’s remains lay dormant and lowered beneath the earth.
Interestingly, this observation and feeling was one that revealed a loss of strength and ability to dare to hope for tomorrow. The feeling that one cannot deal with another death or disappointment.
Therefore, as I seized this type of atmosphere, I internalized it and began to think that maybe this is what I feel, also. It is becoming progressively more difficult to answer the phone or read a text knowing that bad news maybe after the ring and sorrow in the words of a text message.
Last week’s message encouraged us to “Comfort and encourage one another with words penned by the Apostle Paul… ‘For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first…’” (I Thessalonians 4:13-18 ). As comforting as Paul’s words are, Isaiah informs us that we can “Call upon God to renew our strength”. Certainly, this is comforting-knowing that when you feel weary and need renewed strength, God will provide it.
Remarkably, God instructs Isaiah, noted in Isaiah 40, to comfort the people of Israel during troublesome times and before their fall to another nation. Yes, the strongest people and nations get tired and weak at times. However, God is always there and ready to increase their strength. Continue to call upon Him. He will renew your strength.
Invite someone to Christ. Now, that is encouragement!
