PrayingThyWill

Bible Passage:
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 40:31 (NIV)

Truth to Remember:
Hoping in the Lord is an active trust—we acknowledge our incapabilities and look to God’s strength to empower us to endure and keep moving forward.

Devotional Reflection

There was a season in my life when I returned to school as a mature student after leaving a job I had worked in for many years. I was seeking change and personal growth, and I spent time praying about my situation. Sometime later, I became aware of an opportunity to pursue further education that I felt led to follow. I sought the help and resources available to me, and leaned on the hope God gave me that I could achieve this. I tried to remain faithful with the work before me, often feeling inadequate and unsure of my ability to keep going.

This verse reminds me that hoping in the Lord means actively engaging with life and trusting Him to give me the strength I need. It is not passive waiting, but a hope that carried me through the challenges. During my studies, God met me in the process, exchanging my weakness for His strength and helping me push through, one step at a time. In this way, I experienced Isaiah 40:31 in practical ways: I was able to keep going without giving up, handle what was required of me, and finish the program.

Application: Walking in Hope

Isaiah 40:31 promises that those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will continue without growing weary and persevere to the end. I’ve experienced this promise in my own life. Hoping in the Lord may not feel dramatic, but it shows up in the small, faithful steps we take each day—doing what we can, using the resources available, and trusting God to provide what we lack. Even when progress feels slow or effort seems small, each step forward is proof that His strength is at work, carrying us through challenges and helping us finish what He has called us to do.

Reflection Questions:

1. Where are you continuing to show up even though you feel inadequate or unsure of yourself?
2. What resources or help has God already placed within reach that you may need to use more fully?
3. How can you trust God to supply what your effort alone cannot as you take your next step?

Prayer:
Dear Father God, Thank You for Your Word and the promise that when we place our hope in You, You renew our strength. Help us to keep showing up each day, using the resources You provide and trusting You to sustain us. Teach us to rely on You as our source and to notice Your help and the small victories along the way. Give us the patience and courage to continue, even when the path feels hard, and remind us that Your strength is with us every step of the way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Claiming God’s Promise:
As I hope in the Lord, He renews my strength, giving me what I need to keep moving forward.

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