Have you ever been in a difficult place and felt that perhaps God was not as sensitive to your plight as you had hoped? I have. The last time I wrestled with feelings like these, the Lord led me to a passage in Isaiah 40 that opened my eyes and lifted my heart.

Verse 27 (NLT) in this passage says: “How can you say the Lord does not see your troubles? How can you say God ignores your rights?” When all of life seems to be crushing down on us, it can be easy for us to think that God isn’t paying enough attention to our situation, but nothing could be further from the truth. God cares for each one of us personally, and He is never too busy to hear us or to help us. The psalmist confirms this when he says that God “will listen to the prayers of the destitute, for He is never too busy to heed their requests.” (Psalm 102:17 TLB)

The next verse in Isaiah 40 says: “Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of His understanding.” (v. 28 NLT) God is all-knowing and all-powerful, and He is keenly aware of everything that concerns us. He is constantly on the job. He never grows tired or weary, even of hearing our requests. He is “alert and active” every moment of every day. (Jeremiah 1:12 AMP) Yet we can actually limit God’s involvement in our lives by underestimating His power and His love. Instead, we should resist trying to figure Him out (Isaiah 55:8-9), and simply approach Him with “childlike faith.” (Psalm 116:6 NLT)

The next verse in this passage says: “He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.” (v. 29 NLT) When we are feeling weak and weary, and we call upon God, He will strengthen and empower us with His very own power – the same power that raised Christ from the dead. (Ephesians 1:19-20) The apostle Paul probably experienced more hardship and trials than most of us ever will, and yet he was able to maintain a Christlike attitude through it all. How did he manage that? By depending upon God’s “superhuman energy” that flowed in him. (Colossians 1:29 AMP) We have access to the same power, and as we walk in close fellowship with the Lord on a moment-by-moment basis, we can draw on that power whenever we need it.

Isaiah 40:30 (NLT) says: “Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.” The strength of even the mightiest of humans pales in comparison to the power of the Most High God – the power that He reserves for those who trust Him and know how to draw on His strength. It doesn’t matter how old you are – if you live your life depending upon the strength of Almighty God, you will be able to do things in your old age that you couldn’t do when you were a youth.

The last verse in this passage says: “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” (v. 31 NLT) In other words, those who choose to “wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him]” (AMP), will gain supernatural, divine strength. They will literally exchange their own feeble strength for Almighty God’s. When we are in a difficult situation, the Lord will enable us to rise above our difficulties if we will make a firm decision to put our trust in Him. As we declare that He is the source of our strength, and wait in faith for Him to act, we will be able to rise above any discouragement or distractions that come our way. Are YOU making the most of the supernatural strength you have inherited in Christ?

Prayer: Lord, whenever I am feeling weak or weary because of draining circumstances, show me how to tap into Your limitless strength. Teach me how to live my life depending on all of the heavenly resources You have put at my disposal as a follower of Christ. Thank You that as I rely on Your grace and power, I will fulfill my divine destiny and lead multitudes into Your kingdom!