Isa 40:31 (KJV) But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew

their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall

run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Isa 40:31 (NIV) 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.

One of the most magnificent sights of the wild is an eagle

soaring in the sky, higher and higher, with seemingly little effort.

Similarly, the child of God who draws his strength from above is enabled to

go ever onward and upward,… Higher and still higher goals come into

view, [SDA Commentary]

Remember that prayer is the source of your strength. A worker

cannot gain success while he hurries through his prayers and rushes

away to look after something that he fears may be neglected or

forgotten. He gives only a few hurried thoughts to God; he does not take

time to think, to pray, to wait upon the Lord for a renewal of

physical and spiritual strength. He soon becomes weary. He does not feel

the uplifting, inspiring influence of God's Spirit. He is not

quickened by fresh life. His jaded frame and tired brain are not soothed

by personal contact with Christ. 7T243

Even the strongest people get tired at times, but God's power

and strength never diminish. He is never too tired or too busy to

help and listen. His strength is our source of strength. When you

feel all of life crushing you and cannot go another step, remember

that you can call upon God to renew your strength. [Life Application

SB]

Hagar bore Abraham his first son, Ishmael, founding the

Ishamaelite and Arab peoples. This occurred because Sarah ran ahead of

God,

trying to fulfill what was promised - an heir. But our God is a

sovereign God. There are practical lessons to be learned from Sarah and

Hagar: it is foolish to act hastily in times of trial and difficulty;

it is prudent to watch for God's care over the lonely; it is clear

that there is Divine purpose in the life of everyone, no matter how

obscure or friendless; and in the midst of hardship and trouble, God

brings strength, comfort, and encouragement. Are you growing weary of

waiting on God? Don't fall to the temptation of Sarah, running ahead of

God and creating trouble. Make a new decision to wait on the Lord

today, He is faithful and will not let you down. [In His Time; Walk

With Wisdom re Gen.16:1,2]

“Never, never, NEVER trust your own judgment in anything. When

common sense says that a course is right, lift your heart to God, for

the path of faith and the path of blessing may be in a direction

completely opposite to that which you call common sense. When voices tell

you that action is urgent, that something must be done immediately,

refer everything to the tribunal of heaven. Then if you are still in

doubt, dare to stand still. If you are called on to act and you have

not time to pray, don’t act. If you are called on to move in a

certain direction and cannot wait until you have peace with God about

it, don’t move. Be strong enough and brave enough to dare to stand

and wait on God, for none of them that wait on Him shall ever be

ashamed. That is the only way to outmatch the devil.” Alan Redpath,

Victorious Christian Living: Studies in the Book of Joshua, pp. 142,3

There is a fable about the way birds first got their wings. The

story goes that initially they were made without them. Then God made

the wings, set them down before the wingless birds, and said to

them, "Take up these burdens and carry them."

The birds had sweet voices for singing, and lovely feathers that

glistened in the sunshine, but they could not soar in the air. When asked

to pick up the burdens that lay at their feet, they hesitated at

first. Yet soon they obeyed, picked up the wings with their beaks, and

set them on their shoulders to carry them.

For a short time the load seemed heavy and difficult to bear,

but soon, as they continued to carry the burden and to fold the

wings over their hearts, the wings grew attached to their little

bodies. They quickly discovered how to use them and were lifted by the

wings high into the air. The weights had become wings.

This is a parable for us. We are the wingless birds, and our

duties and tasks are the wings God uses to lift us up and carry us

heavenward. We look at our burdens and heavy loads, and try to run from

them, but if we will carry them and tie them to our hearts, they will

become wings. And on them we can then rise and soar toward God.

There is no burden so heavy that when lifted cheerfully with

love in our hearts will not become a blessing to us. God intends for

our tasks to be our helpers; to refuse to bend our shoulders to

carry a load is to miss a new opportunity for growth. J. R. Miller

No matter how overwhelming, any burden God has lovingly placed

with His own hands on our shoulders is a blessing. Frederick William

Faber [Streams In The Desert By Cowman]

The Christian life is a constant process of receiving from God

and giving to God…. He who does not continue to receive strength

from God will soon find himself in a position where he is unable to

serve God. See DA 827. [SDA Commentary]