Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted. Isaiah 40:30
Notice the words Isaiah uses: “faint,” “weary,” “exhausted.” That’s us at our best! “Even youths shall faint and be weary.”
Then God says “Young men shall fall exhausted.” The phrase “young men” literally means “picked men.” This is like athletes who catch the eye of the Olympic selection committee.
At the end of the marathon, even athletes in peak condition are weary. Some fall exhausted. Others look faint. Why? Because their bodies have been through a test of endurance that has pushed them to the limits.
There are limits to all human endurance. Paul describes our bodies as tents (2 Cor. 5) made of canvas and held up by ropes that stretch, sag, and fray. So, no Christian should be surprised at this experience of weariness. We live in this earthly tent that one day will be torn down.
Lean into the truth that you know about God and about yourself. God is your Creator and he will never abandon you. He does not faint or grow weary. He works on a vast timescale with outcomes still to be revealed.
Here’s what you know about yourself: You are not God. You are a created being with limits to your own strength and endurance. You will become weary. You will know what it is to feel spent and exhausted. This should not take you by surprise. Lean into the truth that you know.
Where are you failing to lean into this truth about yourself? How is it affecting you? How is it impacting your relationships?
