TO CHEW ON: "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 40:30,31
Isaiah continued to remind the people of Judah what God is like. It’s as if he has heard someone complain and say, “God doesn’t see me and my problems. He doesn’t know me or care about me. He’s ignoring me.”
To that Isaiah replied with some facts about God. Complete the things Isaiah told the people, using words from the word bank below: (Isaiah 40:28,29)
1. God is _________
2. He is the __________
3. He doesn’t get _______ or ________
4. Nobody can fathom his ___________
5. Instead of getting weary, he gives ___ and ____
Word Bank
******
power tired weary
everlasting creator
strength understanding
But they may have asked – and you might too – How does God give us these things? Verse 31 has the answer. God’s strength comes to us when we hope in the Lord.
Hoping in the Lord means that we stop trying to figure out how to solve our problems ourselves. Instead, we tell Him our problems and leave them with Him.
Picture it this way. All your problems are in one heavy backpack. Doesn’t carrying it around make you tired?
Now imagine yourself coming to Jesus with that backpack. Take it off your shoulders. Unzip it. Now as you unpack it, hand each problem to Jesus to take care of (that’s what you do when you pray). Can he fix them? He sure can!
Of course it would be silly to pack up all those problems again and put that heavy pack back on your shoulders. But that’s what you’re doing if you keep worrying. So don’t do that. Instead, zip up that empty pack. Isn’t it light? Why, now you can walk, and run, and practically fly!
PRAYER: Dear Jesus, I want to hope in You. Right now I give you the problem of _____ (name your specific problem). I leave it with you. I won’t worry about it any more. Thank You for helping me. Amen.
MORE: Help!!
Whenever you are tempted to pick up that backpack of problems and start carrying it around again is a good time to remind yourself of God’s many promises to help you. Below are three Bible references with such promises:
Isaiah 41:10
Jeremiah 29:11
Philippians 4:6,7
1. Look them up.
2. Choose a favorite.
3. Write or print it large on an 8½ x 11" paper.
4. Tack the paper up in a place where you will see it often.
ANSWERS
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Adult readers - DAILY DEVOTIONS FOR ADULTS are available too at Other Food: daily devo's.
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