Those who hope in God will not be deficient in strength. We must not become agitated, or throw ourselves forward rashly, but “wait” patiently. In this passage waiting means patience and hope. In this passage I want to talk about five ways to wait.

1. Soaring

Sometimes we will mount up and soar on wings like eagles. This is a beautiful picture. Ornithologists say birds have three methods of flight.

• Flapping – All birds do some flapping. The bird needs to keep its wings in constant motion to counteract gravity! Humming birds can flap at up to 70 times per second! Flapping keeps you in the air, but it requires a lot of work. We often spend most of our time around. It gets us from here to there, but there is not a lot of grace involved. It is mostly OUR effort.
• Gliding – Here the bird builds up enough speed, then gradually coasts downhill a while. It is more graceful than flapping, but it does not get the bird far as gravity eventually sets in. Gliding is nice but it does not last.
• Soaring – Only a few birds, like eagles, are capable of this. Eagle’s wings are so strong that they are capable of catching rising currents of warm air and without moving a feather can soar up to great heights. They just soar on invisible columns of rising air. The eagle uses an “obstruction lift” such as uplift from a cliff, hill or large building. An obstruction becomes a blessing! They can ascend to great heights.

We all want to be soaring. We all want to have a mountain top experience like the disciples. For some reason God’s plan is not all soaring. It often seems that either I am on top of the mountain or the mountain is on top of me! You can’t always soar, but enjoy it when you do!

2. Running

“Let us run with patience the race that is set before us”. See Hebrews 12:1. We are not to give up easily. It is always easier to have a doughnut than run another lap.

Running is symbolic of freedom. You move both feet freely and your feet just touch the ground occasionally. You might run backwards, but this is more difficult. It is easier to run when you are going forward. Running does require sweat and effort. You need to pace yourself. Isaiah says we will run and will not grow weary. As we wait upon the Lord, we must learn to run and not grow weary. You know – we can’t always run!

3. Walking

“Walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given himself for us”. See Ephesians 4:1. We are to walk worthy of our calling.

Walking is still a forward, progressive movement of the feet. To walk is slow, but sure. It is a visible moving of the feet. Peter walked on water – not for long – but he beat those who sat in the boat and watched him!

We are not to faint. You can’t walk when you are unconscious! Fainting is a shortage of blood to the head. Stay beneath the foot of the cross. There is plenty of blood! You cannot always walk and you can’t always walk on water either.

4. Sitting

See Micah 4:4 “But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid; for the Lord of hosts has spoken it”.

Sitting is when your feet touch the ground all the time. It is OK to sit, but you cannot stay sitting! Sitting can be very dangerous as it can become habitual! You may swap your seat for an easy chair!

See 2 Kings 7:3. If we get and try then maybe God will do something!

5. Lie down

Psalm 23:2 – “He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the still waters”.

Notice that it is God who makes you lie down. This is not laziness! It is a time of divine restoration and providence. God is calling this person to lie down for food (power) and for water (essentials). Lying down is a time of healing and preparation for the road ahead.

6. Conclusion

None of us are exempt from the troubles that we must endure in this life. We serve a God who knows where we are and how to help us get where he wants us to be. God’s plan involves soaring, running, walking, sitting and lying down. These are essential if we are to experience real sustained growth. Believers can indeed be distressed and wearied, but they are at length delivered and restored by the power of God. For two witnesses to this see below:-

• Paul – “While we are troubled on every side, we are not overwhelmed; we are perplexed, but are not in despair; we suffer persecution, but are not forsaken; we are cast down, but are not destroyed.” See 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
• David – “I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay and set my feet upon a rock.” See Psalm 40:1-2.

To wait entails confident expectation and active hope in the Lord – never passive resignation.

Categories: Isaiah