Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

  But those who hope 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 be faint.

Isaiah 40:30-31 NIV

Do you ever find yourself so tired you feel as though you can’t take another step? Or maybe you’re just weary in your mind and feel like you will certainly faint if you have one more decision to make or one more obstacle to present itself. Hey, I’ve been there… more times than I’d like to remember! Sometimes I think to myself, “I’m old enough now that life should be getting easier!” Then why isn’t it? Because we live in a world that is filled with a continual stream of challenges and choices…some that we make ourselves and some that others make for us. The bridge to one of my songs says, “I wake up every morning and I must decide. Will I follow Jesus or believe the devil’s lies?” The devil delights in bringing things across our pathway that would cause us to lose hope. But the devil is a liar. The choice to continue to hope in the faithfulness of the Lord is one that we must make at the dawning of each new day and maintain throughout the day. You may say, “Well, how do I do that?” Meditate on verses that encourage you and build hope. And remind yourself of God’s faithfulness in times past.

To keep an eagle from flying, you only have to clip its wings. We must not allow the hardships of life to clip our wings of hope and keep us from rising above the difficulties. Proverbs, the Wisdom Book says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.” (Proverbs 13:12) Don’t let the enemy of your soul defer your hope! Let’s quote the title verse again with a little modification. We’ll call it TPV (The Personalized Version).

“Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

  But I hope in the LORD!
That hope will renew my strength.
I will soar on wings like eagles;
I will run and not grow weary,
I will walk and not be faint.”

Wow! My faith is fueled by that verse. I can feel my wings of hope spreading and the winds of the Holy Spirit lifting me above the cares that would vainly try to weigh me down!