Isaiah 40:28-31
“Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
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.”
Advent is a time marked by joyful anticipation and frantic preparation. This is one of the most beautiful yet demanding times of the year. Life itself is already full - we’re juggling work, school commitments, family needs, and more. With the holidays on the horizon, the added demands of holiday shopping, travel, and preparing for gatherings can be overwhelming and exhausting just to think about. There is so much to be grateful for, but there is so much to do. This thinking can make this season feel more like a burden than the blessing it is.
It’s easy to feel weary, like we’re running on empty. Isaiah 40:28-31 speaks directly to this state of weariness, reminding us that while our energy is limited, God’s strength is boundless. The passage tells us that “He will not grow tired or weary,” and that He “gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” What a comfort to know that when we are dripping sweat and too tired to stand, God is so strong and powerful that God can give us strength and power in our times of weakness.
In this season, God invites us to bring our exhaustion to Him. God knows our human limitations and doesn’t expect us to carry everything on our own. Instead, God calls us to wait on God, trusting that God will renew our strength. When we do, we experience a transformation—we can “soar on wings like eagles,” rising above life’s anxieties and demands, experiencing the carefree joy that we find in the eagles flying above.
So, in the middle of an already busy schedule and the hustle-and-bustle of the Christmas season, let’s take time to pause, pray, and rely on God’s unfailing strength. God promises that when we lean on Him, we will not grow weary, and we’ll find hope to face each day with renewed energy and peace.
In what ways do you feel weary or stretched thin during this season? How does this affect your ability to feel joyful and present?
As you consider soaring “on wings like eagles,” what anxieties or demands do you feel God could help you rise above? How can this image guide you through the season?