Where Do You Find Strength and Right Perspective?

With the many demands and decisions of life, we all need a source of strength. Certainly proper diet, adequate rest, and regular exercise play a part. But those things fall short of providing the internal strength and wisdom that we need to persevere through the most challenging times. We need a place to go to know how to navigate the course of life in a way that is pleasing to God. When we do this, we find amazing strength and right perspective, the kind that can only come from God.

The complaints of the people

In Isaiah’s day, the people of his nation were complaining. They had been conquered by enemy armies. They were worn out and confused. They wanted freedom. They cried out to God in prayer. They complained to God.

Jacob, why do you say, and Israel, why do you assert: “My way is hidden from the LORD, and my claim is ignored by my God”? (Isaiah 40:27)

The people had two complaints against God:

• “God, don’t you know what we are going through?”
• “God, why don’t you answer our prayers?”

We say those same things today. When we are going through difficult times, we wonder if God knows what’s going on with us. We think our ways are hidden from Him. Or, we think we is just ignoring us when we pray to Him. Those complaints are not valid, but that is how we feel.

The truth is that God certainly knows what’s going on with you, and He hears your prayers. If you find yourself in the place of complaining, realize that it is normal to be there for a moment, but it is NOT OK to stay there. We must move from that place mentally, emotionally and spiritually. We move from there by realizing the truth of who God is and then drawing strength and getting right perspective from Him.

The truth of who God is

Do you not know? Have you not heard? Yahweh is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth. He never grows faint or weary; there is no limit to His understanding. (Isaiah 40:28)

In this one verse, we learn four powerful truths about who God is:

1. The Lord is eternal
2. The Lord is the Creator of the whole earth
3. The Lord never gets tired
4. The Lord’s understanding is limitless

Since He is eternal, the Lord certainly knows what happened in your past, He knows what you are currently going through, and He knows what will happen in your future. As the Creator of the whole earth, He is sovereign over all the nations, and sovereign over all of the people and events that affect you. The Lord is in charge. Because He never gets tired, the Lord is always ready to give you the strength and wisdom you need. And since his understanding is limitless, you can know that His guidance is always right.

Finding strength and right perspective

He gives strength to the weary and strengthens the powerless. Youths may faint and grow weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who trust in the LORD will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:29-31)

From verses 29-31, the Lord shows us how to find strength and right perspective.

Look to the Lord. You may be tempted to first look to the resources of the world: money, people, armies, and all of the ways of the world. But those things will all fall short. The are not eternal, the are not limitless, they are not the creator of the whole earth, and they do get tired. Some people think, “If only I was young again,” but the truth is that even young people get tired, even young men stumble and fall. The solution is not to get young again, but rather to look to the Lord. Only the Lord is the eternal, sovereign, creator, never-tired, all-understanding One. Look to the Lord, pray to Him and study His Word. Let the Bible guide you and give you clear direction. Focus on the Lord and trust in Him. He will guide you to the right people, to use the right resources, and to walk in paths of righteousness.

Get strength from the Lord. The Bible says that the Lord will renew the strength of those who trust in Him. He is our unending source of power and perseverance. Call on Him daily, even multiple times during the day. Rest in His strength from moment-to-moment.

Walk and soar with the Lord. Those who trust in the Lord, those who wait upon Him, will find that He gives them strength to walk (and even run!) though the paths of life. They will soar like the eagles! If you think about, the eagles do not provide the strength for their flight. They simply use their wings to ride the winds that God puts in the sky. And they soar to amazing heights. The Lord will give you strength and He will help you soar as you trust in Him and follow His ways.