The Advent Adventure- 21 Days to Christmas: Renewed Hope!

“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)

Adventures can be exhausting. As exciting as they are, they take a physical and emotional toll on all of us. The Advent Adventure we are on is no exception. It is an adventure of faith! As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, you may find your hope waning. You have hope, but the demands of your schedule, unrealistic expectations, and unexpected circumstances can drain you until you begin to feel hopeless. Here’s some good news! Even the great men and women of the Bible who performed supernatural miracles felt that way at times. So what’s the good news? Are you just telling me that misery loves company? Not at all. When we read about their stories, we can be encouraged by how their hope was renewed! Isaiah describes it so practically in Isaiah 40:30-31 (NIV) when he writes, “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.”

You may be young or old. It doesn’t matter your age. We are human, and we grow tired and weary. That’s normal. Maybe you’re feeling that way right now. Maybe you’ve even found yourself stumbling, or you’ve taken a hard fall, and you wonder if you can even get up. You know you should be filled with hope, but if you’re honest, you have to admit your tank is getting dangerously close to empty. You need to fill it with more hope, but how?

Isaiah gives us the answer for how to thrive again when we are just barely surviving in one of the great chapters of the Bible – Isaiah 40. In fact, this prophet wrote more about the Advent of Christ than any other prophet in the Bible. He was called the “Messianic Prophet”. I want to challenge you to read it today. It will fill your hope tank! He begins with a word of comfort, speaking tenderly to people who have lost hope. He shifts their focus from their own sorrow and weakness to God’s majesty and power. He tells them to “Look up into the heavens!” in verse 26. That alone begins to instill hope that there is a Creator greater than we can imagine. Isaiah reminds them that “The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth.” (Verse 28) He has not forgotten His people, and “He never grows weak or weary.” But here comes the good part. Isaiah reminds them that this Everlasting God “gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.” (Verse 29)

Are you feeling weak and powerless? Do you need renewed strength? Are you tired of just surviving when you know in your heart of hearts God designed you to thrive? Then, the grand finale of this chapter is for you. Keep reading, “Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men WILL fall in exhaustion, 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.” (Verses 30-31 NLT/NIV)

Put your hope in the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will renew your strength until you soar on wings like an eagle. You will run again and not grow weary, and when you stand up and walk, you will not faint! Let God renew your hope as you meditate today on Isaiah 40 and prepare your heart for Christmas!

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Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.

Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.