“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength” – Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV)
Let us examine this line in verse 31 of Isaiah 40 and see how it impacts our total health and wellness.
“Waiting” by itself means allowing time to go by without doing much, or staying where you are, often in a state of anxiety and restlessness. We wait, but we are uneasy. However, “waiting on the Lord“ takes on an entirely new meaning. It means occupying ourselves spiritually while allowing God to work on our behalf. It means not being anxious or fearful, fretful or stressed, but believing that He is able, and being at peace with oneself and others. It means having the assurance that He will come through, and prayerfully anticipating the desired result. It means cultivating an environment of praise and thanksgiving to dwell in, and even as we wait we are strengthened mentally and physically. Our health is improved.
The second part of this sentence confirms this. They “shall renew their strength” As we wait on the Lord we gain the ability to rise (mount up) above our circumstances, overcome difficult situations, cast off uneasiness so we can run and not be weary, dispel doubt and uncertainty, and find ourselves sustained (not fainting) in our progress toward our desired haven.
What we experience here is mental and physical fitness as we walk in the Spirit. Waiting on the Lord is walking in the Spirit and not gratifying the desires of the flesh. It is being able to run without the weight of sin and walk without stumbling as if in the dark.
Let us be encouraged, and encourage others to “wait on the Lord”; He will renew us.
Prayer
Lord, You have been our dwelling place throughout the generations. You have never forsaken us though we strayed often. We thank You for Your faithfulness and ask that You help us to sustain our walk with You since we realise that our spiritual health opens the door to better mental and physical health. Bless us we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Read: Isaiah 40:28-31; Psalm 27:14; Galatians 6:16
Bible Reading Guide: Proverbs 25:11-20; 1 Timothy 4; Jeremiah 40:7-16; Jeremiah 41; Jeremiah 42
