Give Me Strength
“Small Changes”
Isaiah 40:28-31

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 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.” –Isaiah 40:28-31

Isaiah the prophet lived about 700 years before Christ. Isaiah and his family lived in Jerusalem, from where he delivered prophecies of both judgment and blessing to Judah (southern Jewish Kingdom) and to many foreign nations around them. (Isaiah 13-27)

When we look specifically at Isaiah 40, we find two overwhelming truths about God:

1. God is supreme over everything.

He's supreme over the created world. (Isaiah 40:12–14)
He's supreme over all nations. (Isaiah 40:15–17)
He's supreme over idols. (Isaiah 40:18–20)
He’s supreme over kings, presidents, and rulers. (Isaiah 40:21-23)
He’s supreme over the stars. (Isaiah 40:25-26)
He’s supreme over all discouragement. (Isaiah 40:27)

Isaiah wants the Israelites to be in awe at the relationship they have with God.

God is saying, have you not known? Have you not heard? I hold all the keys. I have all the power. 

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence” –2 Peter 1:3

2. God gives us what we need when we wait upon him.

In verses 28-31, we find four things we will need in the coming year, that God possesses beyond measure, that he will give us if we’ll wait on Him:

1. God gives endurance. 
2. God gives wisdom. 

“in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” –Colossians 2:3 

3. God gives grace.
4. God gives strength. 

On December 31, 2023, we want to be able to say …
“I ran the race with endurance, because I learned how to rest in God.”
“I lived wisely, because I hid God’s Word in my heart.”
“I grew in grace, as I spent time with God in prayer.”
“I became stronger, because of the circle of friends around me.”

There are small, but specific, spiritual practices that God can use to grow our endurance, our wisdom, our grace and our strength.