Finding New Strength

by Alexandra Copeland

Isaiah 40:31(NLT) is such a source of comfort for us. It 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.” This verse begins with an undeniable qualifier. It makes clear exactly who is going to experience the manifestation of this promise. It tells us that only those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. This speaks of a problem that many believers have. We think we know God to such an extent that we can predict the limitations of what He will and will not do. We’ve built our boxes on things like religion, culture, and traditions. Many of us will then try to fit God in these limited little boxes, because this allows us to feel comfortable and play it safe. The truth is that every time we blink an eye, God is doing something new. If we continue to try operating on the strength He provided yesterday, we’re going to miss what He’s doing today. 

Revelation 4 tells us about the prophetic encounter John experienced when he received heavenly visions of the Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 6 tells us that the throne of God is surrounded by four living beings, each covered with eyes in the front and back. Revelation 7-8(NLT) says, “7 The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. 8 Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—,”

Our Heavenly Father is the Alpha and the Omega. He is the beginning and the end. This is a span that is both innumerable and unfathomable. God is the beginning of eternity, and He is eternity itself. These four beings keep saying “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty” continually, without end. Our human minds might prompt us to think, “How can this be the only thing they do? Don’t they get bored?” We must recognize that there doesn’t exist in all of creation a better thing to do than praise God. These beings never get tired of doing it because God keeps blowing their minds! Revelations 4:6 tells us they have eyes all over them. They don’t miss a thing; they see everything! And continually, just when they might think they’ve seen God do the most, He surprises them with a demonstration of love and goodness that blows their mind all over again. All they can say is ‘Holy, holy, holy!’

The faith of Jesus Christ is a dynamically powerful reality. It cannot be contained or constrained by the circumstances and conditions that we face. Ephesians 3:20 tells us, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,” Our Heavenly Father deals in the exceedingly abundantly, yet, we convince ourselves that our problems are too much for Him to handle or that He will not use His power to help in our time of need. Nothing could be further from the truth. 

The circumstances and conditions we face today will stretch us beyond the person we were two years ago, two months ago, or two weeks ago. Our faith must increase to see an aspect of God’s nature, love, and power that we haven’t yet seen. Therefore, Isaiah 40:31 makes it abundantly apparent that you and I need new strength for the challenges of today. We shouldn’t look to limit God to our old thinking and believing. Instead, we must trust Him like never before. 

Make no mistake, at whatever stage of spiritual maturity we’re in, we need to run the race that God has set before us. We’re going to need to soar high on wings like eagles; to run and not lose our breath and to walk and not give out. Romans 8:29 tells us that God foreknew us! Long before we entered our mother’s womb, He predestined us to be born for such a time as this. And it wasn’t so we could be the same people we’ve always been. It was so we could grow into the full stature of Christ; that we will be conformed to his very image. Nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ, and we must be committed to release anything that keeps us from seeing the greatness of our God and walking in His tremendous strength, love, and power.■

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved. 

“Finding New Strength”, by Alexandra Copeland. Copyright © 2020. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.