Isaiah 40:27-31 NKJV
27 Why do you say, O Jacob, And speak, O Israel: “My way is hidden from the Lord, And my just claim is passed over by my God”? 28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, 31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Have you ever wondered where strength comes from? It seems that some days I have no strength and yet other days, I’m filled with so much strength. Then, sometimes I ponder, why hasn’t the Lord answered my prayers? I know my prayers are true and faithful, and yet it seems quiet.

But in Isaiah 40, He gives power to the weak and to those who have no might, He increases strength.
The big point I want to show in Isaiah 40, is verse 31: But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.

That tells me that God isn’t ignoring me. He’s saying by not saying that I need to wait.

2 Timothy 4:14-18 NKJV
14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. 15 You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.
16 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.
17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!

Paul understood this and brought it to light when writing to Timothy. The Lord stood with him to strengthen him, so that He could accomplish His calling by preaching the gospel to the gentiles.

2 Chronicles 11:16-17 NKJV
16 And [b]after the Levites left, those from all the tribes of Israel, such as set their heart to seek the Lord God of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the Lord God of their fathers. 17 So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong for three years, because they walked in the way of David and Solomon for three years.

When Israel and Judah split after Solomon died, Jeroboam was wicked and set up false priests of his own to be priests instead of the Levites. The Levites knew they were rejected but they ‘set their heart’, that is their thoughts and feelings to seek the Lord God of Israel. This allowed Rehoboam to become strong for three years because they chose to walk like David and Solomon before them. Great examples to follow…

Psalm 52:7 NKJV
7 “Here is the man who did not make God his strength, But trusted in the abundance of his riches, And strengthened himself in his [a]wickedness.”

And you can strengthen yourself in things of this world or in God. In Psalm 52:7, you can see that this man trusted in riches and strengthened himself in wickedness.

Here’s a good question, what or who do you want to be strong in? Do you want to be strong in God and face the world’s challenges with God or do you want to be strong in your own self, or in the wickedness of this world and face the world’s challenges without God?

Daniel 10:19 NKJV
19 And he said, “O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!” So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”

In Daniel’s writings, you will find that he received his strength back when the Angel of the Lord touched him.

This shows that we need God to be strengthened.

Remember our opening scripture: Isaiah 40:31 NKJV
31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

How do you choose to wait on the Lord?
Psalm 91:1 NKJV
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

We, you and I take the initiative to ‘dwell’ / ‘abide’ before the Lord in the secret place.

Do you set time aside just to speak with God and to hear (read) His Word? This is so important as a believer in Christ. This is where we gain our strength. This is what helps us stay strong. This is what helps us see what is coming, how to be prepared for it, and what to do when it happens.

Everything, especially our help comes out of the Word of God.

Psalm 121:1 NKJV
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

Psalm 20:2 NKJV
2 Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;

Psalm 22:19 NKJV
19 But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me.

The psalmists recognize that strength comes from the Lord. And they cry out to the Lord.

Another way to look at dwelling in the secret place is like a preventative way of action to ask for help from the Lord before you need that help.

The Word of God and His presence is our strength. May He manifest that strength in you.