As we continue this theme of growing in the patience required to inherit the promises, we will look at the most popular of all Scriptures about waiting on the Lord, Isaiah 40:31:
“But those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not be weary. They will walk and not faint.”
The prophet does not say here those who wait on the Lord can renew their strength, they will renew their strength. All who run eventually get weary. Those who walk will eventually faint except those who have learned to wait on the Lord. Why?
Impatience is a form or anger and anger releases increased adrenalin that consumes energy at a much higher rate. Estimates are that one moment of rage can consume the same amount of energy as many hours of hard physical labor. This is why after such an episode one tends to feel tired. If we are generally angry or generally impatient, we are consuming energy at a much higher rate and will feel generally tired.
As the above verse states, mounting up with wings like eagles will renew our strength. Birds do not fly unless they have to because it expends so much energy and makes them tired. However, eagles have learned something that gives them near limitless endurance. They allow the winds to carry them. Wind is a metaphor for the Holy Spirit as we see in John 3:8:
“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
Those born of the Spirit are a new creation, a new species. They start to grow in spirit and become less bound by the old nature. As we are moved more by the Spirit than the earthly, we begin to live a different reality that is far more powerful than the natural one. Like Moses who turned down all the riches and power in Egypt to embrace the afflictions of Christ because he saw Him Who was unseen (see Hebrews 11:27), those born of the Spirit are moved by what others cannot see. Their life is moved by the winds of the Spirit.
Spiritual physics can be counter to natural physics. Those who abide in the Lord can be given His energy to the degree they abide. This is why Jesus said “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29).
How does one put on a yoke and find rest? No one puts on a yoke to sleep but to work. However, if a small ox is yoked with a big ox, the big one will be doing the work and the small one will be getting a free ride. That is how we are called to live, by being joined to the Lord and doing His work with His strength. That is why those engaged in the moves of God can go unnatural lengths of time without sleep yet feel refreshed.
I was once under such a burden from the pressures of ministry and the constant, seemingly overwhelming needs of people that I came close to burnout. When I cried out to the Lord, I felt His presence come in my office. He simply said, “I uphold the universe with My power. I can help you with this little ministry.” He was only there in His manifest presence for about a minute, but I was so energized I felt like I needed more to do.
When we start feeling like the burdens of this world and this life are too great for us, it is because we have somehow departed from the yoke He has called us to. We cannot save a single soul by our own strength, but by His power and authority the world will be saved and fully restored. We have been given the unfathomable favor of being invited along for the ride. However, to stay yoked to Him requires knowing how to wait for Him and He is never under pressure or in a hurry.
© 2021 Rick Joyner. All Rights Reserved.
