“He gives power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 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 40:29-31 (KJV)
I have been recently meditating on this scripture, especially as I look around and see the increase of sin and death. People are dying and losing heart from all the losses we face today.
I work as a Christian mental health counselor, and I am touched many times as I listen to those who seek help. I am especially touched by the youth who have lost hope and have no sense of belonging anywhere. Sadly, our communities are filled with broken homes and families.
This scripture takes me back to one of the greatest prophets from the Old Testament. Isaiah wrote, “Even the youths shall faint and be
weary and the young men shall utterly fall.” I take to heart what he prophesied has become our reality. Are young men losing heart and
utterly falling?
I work in an area where there is a high suicide rate among young people, and many of us grasp at what would help. Isaiah wrote, “But
they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.” In the Hebrew language, “wait” means hopeful anticipation, submission to the Lord’s will, and trusting in the Lord.
Believers in Christ have the answer that “Jesus is the way the truth and the life” (John 14:6). Let us keep sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost and hurting. Pray for our youth to find Jesus and to experience what Isaiah wrote . . . “They shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.”
– Liz Beardy
Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.
The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website.
Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org
