“Is Your Faith activated?”
Recently the lesson in my Bible Study Fellowship, also known as BSF, led me to the book of Isaiah. This particular book of the Bible is overflowing with prophecies, wisdom and surprising encouragement. I had thumbed through Isaiah before, but failed to note many of the commonly quoted scriptures it held.
As verses like, “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, and “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand,” Isaiah 41:10, stood before me I allowed my thoughts to form around the depth of these words.
I found myself asking this question, “How do we really tap into believing the depth of these words?”
I love the encouragement these passages offer, but the truth is we do grow weary, fearful, and doubtful at times. Guiding children with friendships, navigating hard conversations and balancing emotions can be enough to make you want to run for the hills, or at least a nearby Starbucks!
Lately, I have watched dear friends lose loved ones, parents battle difficult decisions, and unfortunate circumstances cause heartbreak. It’s inevitable, life can leave us in shambles.
But, the interesting thing about these scriptures from Isaiah is the placement and choice of words…
Isaiah was a prophet anointed by God to spread the strong message of hope and reassurance amid a harsh reality. People were stubborn, heartache and rebellion were everywhere, and Isaiah was called to speak truth into the chaos. God gave Isaiah comforting words to speak hope and light to those that would receive His promises. Notice God didn’t mention removing trials, He didn’t promise life without challenges, but He did say some strong words that require those listening to make a choice…. He said, “but those who hope in the Lord,” and “I will uphold you with MY righteous hand.”
As I return to my question, “How do we really tap into believing the depth of His Words,” I realize the answer is by FAITH. We choose to believe what He says, we choose to seek His strength when we are weary, and we choose to activate our faith.
Faith is nothing more than a belief until we put it into action. By activating our faith, we find calming assurance, renewed strength, and guidance from His righteous hand. Sure, things such as doubt, fear and weariness will resurface; we will stumble and feel like fainting at times, but when we shift our weakness towards God, He renews us to soar in life. He reminds us that He is the ultimate source of strength when we are weary.
Lean into His promises, remember He is with you, He is your God, and He desires to hold you in the palm of His hand throughout this journey in life.
