October 2, 2018

There has been a lot of focus on my weight and strength (or lack of it) in our home lately.  A report of my weight and exercise activity is a topic of conversation at the end of each day.

It feels weird to be defined by what my body can and can’t do.  To be limited by how much weight I’m allowed to pick up or how far I can stretch.

If I was being graded right now, my report card would read (P) for “Progressing” which is a lot better than the (N) I had a few months for “Needs improvement”.  Thank you, Lord!

I’m encouraged by the words in Isaiah 40:31.  But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

First there is the waiting part.  I’m usually not too fond of waiting but I’m quickly learning that my ability to wait for God to work in my life directly impacts my ability to be blessed.  When I get ahead of God, I find myself frustrated and confused.  It’s best for me to take a big breath and rest in the fact that He is, indeed, working at the perfect pace.

Next comes the renewed strength.  That sounds pretty good to me.  This is a new kind of strength.  A strength I haven’t experienced before.  I’ve had to use muscles that I haven’t used before and they aren’t necessarily physical muscles.

Waiting in the Lord has renewed my spiritual strength – the strength needed to keep going in difficult times.  Strength I never imagined (or wanted) to have.  Strength I know was a gift directly from the Lord.

Waiting in the Lord has given me the ability to soar on wings like eagles.  Even though it is reminiscent of an old Bette Midler song from the eighties, this is oh so much better.  Waiting in the Lord gives me a different view.  A different perspective.  A perspective from above the clouds where the air is clearer and the details aren’t so magnified and overwhelming.  This new perspective gives me a glimpse of the big picture that I am a little part of.

Waiting in the Lord has equipped me to run and not grow weary.  Not real running of course.  I will not be running unless a bear is chasing me – and in that case, you should be running too.

Waiting in the Lord has equipped me with a new energy to keep going like I’ve never had before.  An excitement that keeps me going because I know I have a purpose bigger than me.  Bigger than anything I can dream up.

Waiting in the Lord has supplied me with the ability to spiritually walk and not grow faint.  An endurance to put one foot in front of the other.  To not give up.  To press toward the goal.  I can walk this road and not grow faint because I know God has a plan and purpose for me.  I’m not just scuffing along on some dusty road with tumbleweeds blowing by.  I’m choosing to strap on my walking shoes, grab a granola bar,  and  encourage anyone who is walking along beside me.

Lord, you are with me in the waiting, the strengthening, the soaring, the running, the walking.  I’m sorry for the times I try to get ahead of you and go my own way.  Help me to be patient and enjoy the process of how you are growing me through all of this.  Help me to keep progressing until I’m done on this earth.