He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
God is the everlasting Lord and Creator who never grows faint or weary, and out of His limitless, unsearchable power He supplies power to the exhausted and increases strength where no might remains. His promise reaches those who are faint, helpless and utterly powerless, making their strength grow greater both in body and in spirit with fortitude and courage for His work. That renewed strength belongs to those who wait on the Lord and trust wholly in Him rather than in themselves or in men, and they are lifted up to rise, run and walk without weariness or fainting. In Christ, to whom all power is given, this gift means help in trouble, victory over temptation and Satan, and grace made perfect in human weakness. It assures fearful hearts that their way is not hidden from Him and they are not forgotten, but comforted, forgiven and tenderly shepherded as their warfare is finished.
The Giver of Strength
The verse reveals God as the everlasting Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, who gives power to the faint and increases strength where there is no might at all. He is the Creator who strengthens and helps the weak, the helpless and the powerless, so that their weakness does not prevent their return to Him and their way is not hidden from Him nor their cause passed over. In Christ, to whom all power is given, simple trust receives strength to withstand Satan's power and not be overcome.
He never grows faint, weary, or tired, and His unfailing might sustains the weak, so human exhaustion does not limit Him. His understanding, wisdom, and power are limitless, unsearchable, and inexhaustible, past finding out by finite minds, and it is that limitless understanding and power that make Him able to strengthen the weak. His wisdom cannot be searched, yet He shares His strength with weak and helpless people.
He is infinite, shrouded in thick clouds of mystery and concealing more of Himself than He makes known, giving mysteries that are incomprehensible to command faith and reverence, for if His ways and works could be explained by finite minds He would not stand as supreme. Nothing is beneath His notice and nothing too small for His attention, and human wisdom is limited, for in the common things of daily life there are mysteries past comprehension, His judgments and purposes past finding out, His wisdom unsearchable, and His love never to be explained upon natural principles. Beyond all searching and learning there remains an infinite beyond, with ever-increasing light for those who walk in its rays and dense darkness for those who reject heaven's light, and He is to be trusted with the interests of the soul and trusted wholly with the whole life.
Human strength fails, and even youths and young men grow weary and utterly fall, but His strength answers human weakness and does not fail. His inexhaustible strength sustains those who depend on Him and rely on Him, and those who wait upon the Lord receive renewed strength and can continue without fainting.
The Promise to the Faint
The promise is for those who are faint, exhausted, weak, helpless and powerless, and for those who have no might at all, to whom He gives power and makes strength grow greater. The one who simply trusts in Christ receives strength to withstand Satan's power and cannot be overcome. In sickness those who wait on the Lord can rely on His strength as they pray and trust Him. He gives this grace to the humble, stooping to serve and beautifying the meek with salvation. For workers meeting turmoil, discomfort, weariness, uncertainty, distraction, despair and restless nervousness, the way is to stop and rest apart with Christ, and by waiting on the Lord strength is renewed.
Man is weakness itself, and God is strength, fortitude and courage to His people when they diligently make Him their trust. That means trusting wholly in His wisdom and not leaning to one's own understanding, seeking the Lord for wisdom and grace with thanksgiving for His tender, loving compassion. It means pleading to be taught truth so as not to err from His way, to be guided in pen and speech so as not to sin, and crying for help against unbelief because faith is too small. It is to be studied prayerfully with all of Isaiah 40 and with Isaiah 50. Spiritual weakness comes from failing to grow up in faith in Jesus as the living Head and failing to live on the plan of addition, and heeding this promise makes believers strong, able-bodied, useful, apt, courageous Christians of good report.
Those who wait on the Lord have their strength renewed to mount up with wings as eagles and to rise, run and walk without weariness or fainting. This belongs with comfort to His people whose warfare is finished and whose wrong is forgiven, with His coming with a strong hand and His reward with Him, and with His tender care as a shepherd who gathers lambs in His arms and gently leads the young. The everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth, never grows faint or tired and His wisdom cannot be searched, yet He shares His strength with weak and helpless people. Though even the young and strong may grow weary and utterly fall, those who wait on the Lord receive renewed strength and can continue without fainting, which is especially comforting to the afflicted. The lesson is to humble oneself and depend on Him rather than trust in one's own wisdom.
The increased strength is both physical and spiritual, including fortitude and courage to do the work in His name. When turmoil, nervous strain and exhaustion threaten to wear out weary workers, they should stop, rest and wait on the Lord, who renews their spiritual and physical strength. He gives sustaining power in a marked manner to faint, exhausted workers, enabling thorough work in speaking and writing even in weakness and with limited sleep when He calls back to active labor. When duty is done in depression, bodily infirmity and temptation to retire from active labor, He gives special help by His presence, with the Holy Spirit bringing truth to remembrance, making the mind clear and the truth forcible while standing before the people in weakness. Those who are of good courage, lift up Jesus at all times, keep Him lifted up before the mind, and wait only on the Lord receive might by faith, for He is strength and efficiency, which calls for blessing the Lord and praising His holy name.
After doing one's best through the help He graciously gives, the weary, tired child of God whom the Lord knows needs rest must not through restlessness or presumption or over-anxiety and lack of physical strength make himself unfit for duty, because the work of God is sacred and cannot be done in weakness. He must rest quietly a while in the clear conviction that resting is the only thing possible to regain strength for further action, letting others carry the burdens until God restores strength. In Christ, to whom all power has been given, the promise assures His people of help in trouble and victory in conflict. Power is not in feeble self but is given by One who is mighty to save, and His grace makes His strength perfect in human weakness.
The strength needed for hard labor comes from the Lord, not merely from human ability, and He bestows all the strength His servants need for His work, so there is to be no despondency. Those who love and serve Him have their strength renewed day by day, enabling faith to endure pressure and forbidding appearances without fear. He more than fulfills the highest expectations of those who put their trust in Him, giving wisdom for varied necessities and placing His understanding at their service so they do not err in carrying out His purposes. His absolute power as King of kings, joined with the gentleness of a tender shepherd and an unalterable covenant, pledges deliverance and the removal of every obstruction. When the tempter comes with thoughts of discouragement the faint are not to complain or become discouraged or give up in despair because they are weak and ignorant, but to read words of praise and thanksgiving and rise above the power of the enemy, to go right to the Lord just as they are and cast the helpless soul on Him, and coming as a repentant sinner they will not be turned empty away, for whatever their sins have been the compassionate, tender, merciful Saviour encircles them with arms of love and increases strength.
Setting and Assurance
The promise belongs to a message of comfort to His people whose warfare is finished and whose wrong is forgiven. It stands joined to His coming with a strong hand and His reward with Him. It stands joined also to His tender care as a shepherd who gathers lambs in His arms and gently leads the young.
It assures those who fear their way is hidden from the Lord and their cause is passed over that they are not forgotten or rejected. Their weakness does not prevent them from returning to Him, for as Creator He does not grow weary and He is able to renew and sustain them. When they feel overlooked, exhausted, weak, and powerless, His unfailing might strengthens and helps them.
It was written to comfort true believers amid the afflicting judgments coming on the world near the close of earth's history. Those judgments include earthquakes, storms on land and sea, and heavy calamities by sea and railroad. While many who have greatly sinned perish physically, sincere, humble, righteous followers of Christ themselves feel and are afflicted by those judgments upon the rebellious, and to them God promises power to the faint and increased strength to those with no might.
It stands with Isaiah 41-43 as precious assurance full of promises and encouragement that will certainly be fulfilled. Those who fulfill them in the latter days place themselves where the Lord will surely do all He has promised. It gives the correct lesson of true higher education. It confirms God's sure mercies, grace, and glory, and encourages faith, hope, assurance, and courage.
It is to be studied prayerfully with all of Isaiah 40 and with Isaiah 50. Isaiah 40:1-31 is to be studied with Isaiah 42 and Second Peter to make known deeply spiritual work calling for thorough reformation led by people of clear understanding worked by the Holy Spirit. It is part of God's call to His church to appreciate her exalted privilege in having the wisdom of the Infinite at her demand.
It is part of the message of God's power in creation which the Sabbath is appointed to keep in memory. The power that created all things also speaks life to the soul, so nature brings comfort by revealing His power. The Sabbath is a sign that He is Jehovah, the Creator who strengthens and helps His people. The stars in their steady course offer the same courage and steadfastness when the heart is faint, temptation presses, and life's obstacles seem impossible to overcome.
Waiting to Receive Strength
The renewed strength is for those who wait on the Lord, who humble themselves and depend on Him as the inexhaustible Creator whose understanding cannot be searched, rather than trusting in their own wisdom. Man is weakness itself, and God becomes strength, fortitude and courage to His people when they diligently make Him their trust, trusting wholly in His wisdom and not leaning to their own understanding. Heeding the promise makes believers strong, able-bodied, useful, apt and courageous Christians of good report, for spiritual weakness comes from failing to grow up in faith in Jesus as the living Head and failing to live on the plan of addition. Exhausted workers are to stop and rest apart with Christ, and by waiting upon Him their strength is renewed both spiritually and physically. Those who are of good courage, lift up Jesus at all times, keep Him lifted up before the mind, and wait only upon the Lord receive might by faith, for He is strength and efficiency, with the Holy Spirit bringing truth to remembrance, making the mind clear and the truth forcible even when standing before the people in weakness and doing duty in depression, bodily infirmity and temptation to retire.
The Lord alone is to be trusted, and men are not to trust in men or make flesh their arm. His people can rely on His wisdom and strength rather than looking to finite human beings, for He is the everlasting Creator who never grows tired and whose understanding cannot be searched out. That strength comes through dependence on God, not reliance on human authorities, so workers need to seek God's wisdom and strength with watchfulness, prayer and surrender to Him. He gives strength to His own people for diligent, earnest work of repentance, and He will not be trifled with. No human agent is to limit the Holy One of Israel in fulfilling this promise.
Receiving strength means simply trusting in Christ, and the one who simply trusts in Him receives strength to withstand Satan's power and cannot be overcome. Those who feel utterly weak can trust Him simply, rest in Jesus, and receive help and strength without trying to muster a severe effort of their own, for He knows the limits of body and mind and gives strength for what He requires. When believers turn away from beholding Satan and look unto Christ and seek His face, catching the divine rays of light from Him, their need opens the way to Him, and the greater their need the more open the way. Then they receive strength to flash back the light of the glory of God and to live Christ's character and be like Him, rather than reflecting Satan's character in peevish spirit, evil thinking or evil speaking against brethren.
It means seeking the Lord for wisdom and grace with thanksgiving for His tender, loving compassion, pleading to be taught truth so as not to err from His way, to be guided in pen and speech so as not to sin, and crying for help against unbelief because faith is too small. In faintness and weakness they should tell Jesus their troubles, seek His help, and ask for humility, wisdom, courage and increased faith. The verse is to be studied prayerfully with all of Isaiah 40 and with Isaiah 50. Power is not in feeble self but is given by One who is mighty to save, so when the tempter comes with thoughts of discouragement the faint are not to complain or become discouraged or give up in despair because they are weak and ignorant. Instead they are to read words of praise and thanksgiving and rise above the power of the enemy, to go right to the Lord just as they are and cast the helpless soul on Him, and coming as a repentant sinner they will not be turned empty away, for whatever their sins have been the compassionate, tender, merciful Saviour encircles them with arms of love and increases strength.
For exhausted workers facing turmoil, discomfort, weariness, uncertainty, distraction, despair, nervous strain and restless nervousness, waiting means stopping and resting apart with Christ until God restores strength. God gives sustaining power in a marked manner to faint, exhausted workers, increasing strength with both physical and spiritual strength, with fortitude and courage to do the work in His name when He calls back to active labor, enabling thorough work in speaking and writing even in weakness and with limited sleep. After doing one's best through the help God graciously gives, the weary, tired child of God whom the Lord knows needs rest must not be restless or presumptuous or make himself unfit for duty by over-anxiety and lack of physical strength, because the work of God is sacred and cannot be done in weakness. He must rest quietly a while in the clear conviction that resting is the only thing possible to regain strength for further action, letting others carry the burdens until God restores strength.
Strength for Life and Service
One who simply trusts in Christ receives strength to withstand Satan's power and cannot be overcome, so that victory is given when temptation presses. Power is not in feeble self but is given by One who is mighty to save, and when the tempter comes with thoughts of discouragement the faint are not to complain or become discouraged or give up in despair because of weakness and ignorance. Instead they are to read words of praise and thanksgiving and rise above the power of the enemy, going right to the Lord just as they are and casting the helpless soul on Him, and coming as a repentant sinner they will not be turned empty away, for whatever their sins have been the compassionate, tender, merciful Saviour encircles them with arms of love and increases strength.
There is to be no despondency in God's service, for God is able and willing to bestow upon His servants all the strength they need for His work. Those who love and serve Him have their strength renewed day by day, enabling faith to endure pressure and forbidding appearances without fear and to stand the pressure brought to bear upon it. He more than fulfills the highest expectations of those who put their trust in Him, giving wisdom for varied necessities and placing His understanding at their service so they do not err in carrying out His purposes. His absolute power as King of kings, joined with the gentleness of a tender shepherd and an unalterable covenant, pledges deliverance and the removal of every obstruction, and His grace makes His strength perfect in human weakness.
The promise strengthens workers who are weary, distressed, distracted, and nearly in despair, for Christ gives them strength. It strengthened those laboring unusually hard, so they could keep going rather than break down, for the strength needed for hard labor comes from the Lord, not merely from human ability. When duty is done in depression, bodily infirmity, and temptation to retire from active labor, He gives special help by His presence, with the Holy Spirit bringing truth to remembrance, making the mind clear and the truth forcible while standing before the people in weakness. That same strengthening encourages those advancing the school work, for God can strengthen them and help them prepare young people for His service. Those who are of good courage, lift up Jesus at all times, keep Him lifted up before the mind, and wait only upon the Lord receive might by faith, for He is strength and efficiency, which calls for blessing the Lord and praising His holy name.
God gives sustaining power in a marked manner to faint, exhausted workers, enabling thorough work in speaking and writing even in weakness and with limited sleep when He calls back to active labor. The increased strength is both physical and spiritual, with fortitude and courage to do the work in His name. Yet because the work of God is sacred and cannot be done in weakness, the weary, tired child of God whom the Lord knows needs rest must not be restless or presumptuous or make himself unfit for duty by over-anxiety and lack of physical strength. After doing one's best through the help God graciously gives, he must rest quietly a while in the clear conviction that resting is the only thing possible to regain strength for further action, letting others carry the burdens until God restores strength.
His strengthening is a reason to meet difficulty with courage and to resist bitter, harsh words. Those who are of good courage are to lift up Jesus at all times, keeping Him lifted up before the mind. Brothers are to claim strength from God so they can recover courage and bear their responsibilities without being held back by trials and discouragements.
The promise is an assurance of encouragement and hope for the sick and suffering, and of strength for Christians whose hope is clouded. Christ gives power to the faint and increases the strength of those who have no might, and this promise is to be shared with sick people as they are led to see their need of the Saviour and the new life in Christ. This sharing is to be done patiently and sympathetically as they are led to Christ and taught about new life in Him.
In the setting of recovery from sickness, this strengthening accompanies renewed hope and faith, for recognizing God's goodness in providing blessings invigorates the mind and makes His nearness a source of encouragement. In recovery through nature, careful treatment, and wholesome food, it expresses the renewed hope and faith of those who regain strength and recognize God's goodness in providing these blessings. Remembering God's goodness in providing blessings that restore health and hope renews the mind and strengthens faith.
In sickness, those who wait on the Lord can rely on His strength as they pray and trust Him when exhausted or powerless. In human weakness Christ supplies strength, heals and renews, and gives another opportunity to grow in Christian character, for weakness teaches dependence on Him.
The Lord preserves strength in old age for continued useful work for those who are faint and lack strength. Those who love and serve Him have their strength renewed day by day.
The church advances in strength as it advances in holiness, for human strength fails but those who wait on the Lord receive renewed strength. Spiritual weakness comes from failing to grow up in faith in Jesus as the living Head and failing to live on the plan of addition, and heeding the promise to rise, run, and walk without weariness or fainting makes believers strong, able-bodied, useful, apt, courageous Christians of good report. No human agent is to limit the Holy One of Israel in this giving of power to the faint and increase of strength to those who have no might.
Though Satan has nearly obliterated the image of God in man, all who connect themselves with God will have His moral image restored in them. Hereditary peculiarity and deficiencies of character may be overcome through faith and the imputed righteousness of Christ, which is the new birth where old things pass away and all things become new. Head-reading by phrenology has done harm by turning souls away from the very work God has chosen for them, shaping their course by human counsel far from the counsel of God, but God through His own grace will give them fitness to do that work so they shall be successful agents cooperating with divine agencies.
He does not extinguish even the weakest spark of spiritual life or break the feeblest reed, but sustains the weak who are spiritually faint or helpless and come to Christ in humble sincerity. He gives this grace to the humble, in keeping with His example of stooping to serve and beautifying the meek with salvation.
He knows the limits of body and mind and gives strength for what He requires. Those who feel utterly weak and helpless can trust Him simply, rest in Jesus, and receive help and strength without trying to muster a severe effort of their own.
The verse belongs to God's call to His church to appreciate her exalted privilege in having the wisdom of the Infinite at her demand. The Lord alone is to be trusted, and men are not to trust in men or make flesh their arm, for He gives strength to His own people for diligent, earnest work of repentance, and He will not be trifled with.
God is the everlasting Lord and Creator who never grows faint or weary, and out of His limitless, unsearchable power He supplies power to the exhausted and increases strength where no might remains. His promise reaches those who are faint, helpless and utterly powerless, making their strength grow greater both in body and in spirit with fortitude and courage for His work. That renewed strength belongs to those who wait on the Lord and trust wholly in Him rather than in themselves or in men, and they are lifted up to rise, run and walk without weariness or fainting. In Christ, to whom all power is given, this gift means help in trouble, victory over temptation and Satan, and grace made perfect in human weakness. It assures fearful hearts that their way is not hidden from Him and they are not forgotten, but comforted, forgiven and tenderly shepherded as their warfare is finished.
The Giver of Strength
The verse reveals God as the everlasting Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, who gives power to the faint and increases strength where there is no might at all. He is the Creator who strengthens and helps the weak, the helpless and the powerless, so that their weakness does not prevent their return to Him and their way is not hidden from Him nor their cause passed over. In Christ, to whom all power is given, simple trust receives strength to withstand Satan's power and not be overcome.
He never grows faint, weary, or tired, and His unfailing might sustains the weak, so human exhaustion does not limit Him. His understanding, wisdom, and power are limitless, unsearchable, and inexhaustible, past finding out by finite minds, and it is that limitless understanding and power that make Him able to strengthen the weak. His wisdom cannot be searched, yet He shares His strength with weak and helpless people.
He is infinite, shrouded in thick clouds of mystery and concealing more of Himself than He makes known, giving mysteries that are incomprehensible to command faith and reverence, for if His ways and works could be explained by finite minds He would not stand as supreme. Nothing is beneath His notice and nothing too small for His attention, and human wisdom is limited, for in the common things of daily life there are mysteries past comprehension, His judgments and purposes past finding out, His wisdom unsearchable, and His love never to be explained upon natural principles. Beyond all searching and learning there remains an infinite beyond, with ever-increasing light for those who walk in its rays and dense darkness for those who reject heaven's light, and He is to be trusted with the interests of the soul and trusted wholly with the whole life.
Human strength fails, and even youths and young men grow weary and utterly fall, but His strength answers human weakness and does not fail. His inexhaustible strength sustains those who depend on Him and rely on Him, and those who wait upon the Lord receive renewed strength and can continue without fainting.
The Promise to the Faint
The promise is for those who are faint, exhausted, weak, helpless and powerless, and for those who have no might at all, to whom He gives power and makes strength grow greater. The one who simply trusts in Christ receives strength to withstand Satan's power and cannot be overcome. In sickness those who wait on the Lord can rely on His strength as they pray and trust Him. He gives this grace to the humble, stooping to serve and beautifying the meek with salvation. For workers meeting turmoil, discomfort, weariness, uncertainty, distraction, despair and restless nervousness, the way is to stop and rest apart with Christ, and by waiting on the Lord strength is renewed.
Man is weakness itself, and God is strength, fortitude and courage to His people when they diligently make Him their trust. That means trusting wholly in His wisdom and not leaning to one's own understanding, seeking the Lord for wisdom and grace with thanksgiving for His tender, loving compassion. It means pleading to be taught truth so as not to err from His way, to be guided in pen and speech so as not to sin, and crying for help against unbelief because faith is too small. It is to be studied prayerfully with all of Isaiah 40 and with Isaiah 50. Spiritual weakness comes from failing to grow up in faith in Jesus as the living Head and failing to live on the plan of addition, and heeding this promise makes believers strong, able-bodied, useful, apt, courageous Christians of good report.
Those who wait on the Lord have their strength renewed to mount up with wings as eagles and to rise, run and walk without weariness or fainting. This belongs with comfort to His people whose warfare is finished and whose wrong is forgiven, with His coming with a strong hand and His reward with Him, and with His tender care as a shepherd who gathers lambs in His arms and gently leads the young. The everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth, never grows faint or tired and His wisdom cannot be searched, yet He shares His strength with weak and helpless people. Though even the young and strong may grow weary and utterly fall, those who wait on the Lord receive renewed strength and can continue without fainting, which is especially comforting to the afflicted. The lesson is to humble oneself and depend on Him rather than trust in one's own wisdom.
The increased strength is both physical and spiritual, including fortitude and courage to do the work in His name. When turmoil, nervous strain and exhaustion threaten to wear out weary workers, they should stop, rest and wait on the Lord, who renews their spiritual and physical strength. He gives sustaining power in a marked manner to faint, exhausted workers, enabling thorough work in speaking and writing even in weakness and with limited sleep when He calls back to active labor. When duty is done in depression, bodily infirmity and temptation to retire from active labor, He gives special help by His presence, with the Holy Spirit bringing truth to remembrance, making the mind clear and the truth forcible while standing before the people in weakness. Those who are of good courage, lift up Jesus at all times, keep Him lifted up before the mind, and wait only on the Lord receive might by faith, for He is strength and efficiency, which calls for blessing the Lord and praising His holy name.
After doing one's best through the help He graciously gives, the weary, tired child of God whom the Lord knows needs rest must not through restlessness or presumption or over-anxiety and lack of physical strength make himself unfit for duty, because the work of God is sacred and cannot be done in weakness. He must rest quietly a while in the clear conviction that resting is the only thing possible to regain strength for further action, letting others carry the burdens until God restores strength. In Christ, to whom all power has been given, the promise assures His people of help in trouble and victory in conflict. Power is not in feeble self but is given by One who is mighty to save, and His grace makes His strength perfect in human weakness.
The strength needed for hard labor comes from the Lord, not merely from human ability, and He bestows all the strength His servants need for His work, so there is to be no despondency. Those who love and serve Him have their strength renewed day by day, enabling faith to endure pressure and forbidding appearances without fear. He more than fulfills the highest expectations of those who put their trust in Him, giving wisdom for varied necessities and placing His understanding at their service so they do not err in carrying out His purposes. His absolute power as King of kings, joined with the gentleness of a tender shepherd and an unalterable covenant, pledges deliverance and the removal of every obstruction. When the tempter comes with thoughts of discouragement the faint are not to complain or become discouraged or give up in despair because they are weak and ignorant, but to read words of praise and thanksgiving and rise above the power of the enemy, to go right to the Lord just as they are and cast the helpless soul on Him, and coming as a repentant sinner they will not be turned empty away, for whatever their sins have been the compassionate, tender, merciful Saviour encircles them with arms of love and increases strength.
Setting and Assurance
The promise belongs to a message of comfort to His people whose warfare is finished and whose wrong is forgiven. It stands joined to His coming with a strong hand and His reward with Him. It stands joined also to His tender care as a shepherd who gathers lambs in His arms and gently leads the young.
It assures those who fear their way is hidden from the Lord and their cause is passed over that they are not forgotten or rejected. Their weakness does not prevent them from returning to Him, for as Creator He does not grow weary and He is able to renew and sustain them. When they feel overlooked, exhausted, weak, and powerless, His unfailing might strengthens and helps them.
It was written to comfort true believers amid the afflicting judgments coming on the world near the close of earth's history. Those judgments include earthquakes, storms on land and sea, and heavy calamities by sea and railroad. While many who have greatly sinned perish physically, sincere, humble, righteous followers of Christ themselves feel and are afflicted by those judgments upon the rebellious, and to them God promises power to the faint and increased strength to those with no might.
It stands with Isaiah 41-43 as precious assurance full of promises and encouragement that will certainly be fulfilled. Those who fulfill them in the latter days place themselves where the Lord will surely do all He has promised. It gives the correct lesson of true higher education. It confirms God's sure mercies, grace, and glory, and encourages faith, hope, assurance, and courage.
It is to be studied prayerfully with all of Isaiah 40 and with Isaiah 50. Isaiah 40:1-31 is to be studied with Isaiah 42 and Second Peter to make known deeply spiritual work calling for thorough reformation led by people of clear understanding worked by the Holy Spirit. It is part of God's call to His church to appreciate her exalted privilege in having the wisdom of the Infinite at her demand.
It is part of the message of God's power in creation which the Sabbath is appointed to keep in memory. The power that created all things also speaks life to the soul, so nature brings comfort by revealing His power. The Sabbath is a sign that He is Jehovah, the Creator who strengthens and helps His people. The stars in their steady course offer the same courage and steadfastness when the heart is faint, temptation presses, and life's obstacles seem impossible to overcome.
Waiting to Receive Strength
The renewed strength is for those who wait on the Lord, who humble themselves and depend on Him as the inexhaustible Creator whose understanding cannot be searched, rather than trusting in their own wisdom. Man is weakness itself, and God becomes strength, fortitude and courage to His people when they diligently make Him their trust, trusting wholly in His wisdom and not leaning to their own understanding. Heeding the promise makes believers strong, able-bodied, useful, apt and courageous Christians of good report, for spiritual weakness comes from failing to grow up in faith in Jesus as the living Head and failing to live on the plan of addition. Exhausted workers are to stop and rest apart with Christ, and by waiting upon Him their strength is renewed both spiritually and physically. Those who are of good courage, lift up Jesus at all times, keep Him lifted up before the mind, and wait only upon the Lord receive might by faith, for He is strength and efficiency, with the Holy Spirit bringing truth to remembrance, making the mind clear and the truth forcible even when standing before the people in weakness and doing duty in depression, bodily infirmity and temptation to retire.
The Lord alone is to be trusted, and men are not to trust in men or make flesh their arm. His people can rely on His wisdom and strength rather than looking to finite human beings, for He is the everlasting Creator who never grows tired and whose understanding cannot be searched out. That strength comes through dependence on God, not reliance on human authorities, so workers need to seek God's wisdom and strength with watchfulness, prayer and surrender to Him. He gives strength to His own people for diligent, earnest work of repentance, and He will not be trifled with. No human agent is to limit the Holy One of Israel in fulfilling this promise.
Receiving strength means simply trusting in Christ, and the one who simply trusts in Him receives strength to withstand Satan's power and cannot be overcome. Those who feel utterly weak can trust Him simply, rest in Jesus, and receive help and strength without trying to muster a severe effort of their own, for He knows the limits of body and mind and gives strength for what He requires. When believers turn away from beholding Satan and look unto Christ and seek His face, catching the divine rays of light from Him, their need opens the way to Him, and the greater their need the more open the way. Then they receive strength to flash back the light of the glory of God and to live Christ's character and be like Him, rather than reflecting Satan's character in peevish spirit, evil thinking or evil speaking against brethren.
It means seeking the Lord for wisdom and grace with thanksgiving for His tender, loving compassion, pleading to be taught truth so as not to err from His way, to be guided in pen and speech so as not to sin, and crying for help against unbelief because faith is too small. In faintness and weakness they should tell Jesus their troubles, seek His help, and ask for humility, wisdom, courage and increased faith. The verse is to be studied prayerfully with all of Isaiah 40 and with Isaiah 50. Power is not in feeble self but is given by One who is mighty to save, so when the tempter comes with thoughts of discouragement the faint are not to complain or become discouraged or give up in despair because they are weak and ignorant. Instead they are to read words of praise and thanksgiving and rise above the power of the enemy, to go right to the Lord just as they are and cast the helpless soul on Him, and coming as a repentant sinner they will not be turned empty away, for whatever their sins have been the compassionate, tender, merciful Saviour encircles them with arms of love and increases strength.
For exhausted workers facing turmoil, discomfort, weariness, uncertainty, distraction, despair, nervous strain and restless nervousness, waiting means stopping and resting apart with Christ until God restores strength. God gives sustaining power in a marked manner to faint, exhausted workers, increasing strength with both physical and spiritual strength, with fortitude and courage to do the work in His name when He calls back to active labor, enabling thorough work in speaking and writing even in weakness and with limited sleep. After doing one's best through the help God graciously gives, the weary, tired child of God whom the Lord knows needs rest must not be restless or presumptuous or make himself unfit for duty by over-anxiety and lack of physical strength, because the work of God is sacred and cannot be done in weakness. He must rest quietly a while in the clear conviction that resting is the only thing possible to regain strength for further action, letting others carry the burdens until God restores strength.
Strength for Life and Service
One who simply trusts in Christ receives strength to withstand Satan's power and cannot be overcome, so that victory is given when temptation presses. Power is not in feeble self but is given by One who is mighty to save, and when the tempter comes with thoughts of discouragement the faint are not to complain or become discouraged or give up in despair because of weakness and ignorance. Instead they are to read words of praise and thanksgiving and rise above the power of the enemy, going right to the Lord just as they are and casting the helpless soul on Him, and coming as a repentant sinner they will not be turned empty away, for whatever their sins have been the compassionate, tender, merciful Saviour encircles them with arms of love and increases strength.
There is to be no despondency in God's service, for God is able and willing to bestow upon His servants all the strength they need for His work. Those who love and serve Him have their strength renewed day by day, enabling faith to endure pressure and forbidding appearances without fear and to stand the pressure brought to bear upon it. He more than fulfills the highest expectations of those who put their trust in Him, giving wisdom for varied necessities and placing His understanding at their service so they do not err in carrying out His purposes. His absolute power as King of kings, joined with the gentleness of a tender shepherd and an unalterable covenant, pledges deliverance and the removal of every obstruction, and His grace makes His strength perfect in human weakness.
The promise strengthens workers who are weary, distressed, distracted, and nearly in despair, for Christ gives them strength. It strengthened those laboring unusually hard, so they could keep going rather than break down, for the strength needed for hard labor comes from the Lord, not merely from human ability. When duty is done in depression, bodily infirmity, and temptation to retire from active labor, He gives special help by His presence, with the Holy Spirit bringing truth to remembrance, making the mind clear and the truth forcible while standing before the people in weakness. That same strengthening encourages those advancing the school work, for God can strengthen them and help them prepare young people for His service. Those who are of good courage, lift up Jesus at all times, keep Him lifted up before the mind, and wait only upon the Lord receive might by faith, for He is strength and efficiency, which calls for blessing the Lord and praising His holy name.
God gives sustaining power in a marked manner to faint, exhausted workers, enabling thorough work in speaking and writing even in weakness and with limited sleep when He calls back to active labor. The increased strength is both physical and spiritual, with fortitude and courage to do the work in His name. Yet because the work of God is sacred and cannot be done in weakness, the weary, tired child of God whom the Lord knows needs rest must not be restless or presumptuous or make himself unfit for duty by over-anxiety and lack of physical strength. After doing one's best through the help God graciously gives, he must rest quietly a while in the clear conviction that resting is the only thing possible to regain strength for further action, letting others carry the burdens until God restores strength.
His strengthening is a reason to meet difficulty with courage and to resist bitter, harsh words. Those who are of good courage are to lift up Jesus at all times, keeping Him lifted up before the mind. Brothers are to claim strength from God so they can recover courage and bear their responsibilities without being held back by trials and discouragements.
The promise is an assurance of encouragement and hope for the sick and suffering, and of strength for Christians whose hope is clouded. Christ gives power to the faint and increases the strength of those who have no might, and this promise is to be shared with sick people as they are led to see their need of the Saviour and the new life in Christ. This sharing is to be done patiently and sympathetically as they are led to Christ and taught about new life in Him.
In the setting of recovery from sickness, this strengthening accompanies renewed hope and faith, for recognizing God's goodness in providing blessings invigorates the mind and makes His nearness a source of encouragement. In recovery through nature, careful treatment, and wholesome food, it expresses the renewed hope and faith of those who regain strength and recognize God's goodness in providing these blessings. Remembering God's goodness in providing blessings that restore health and hope renews the mind and strengthens faith.
In sickness, those who wait on the Lord can rely on His strength as they pray and trust Him when exhausted or powerless. In human weakness Christ supplies strength, heals and renews, and gives another opportunity to grow in Christian character, for weakness teaches dependence on Him.
The Lord preserves strength in old age for continued useful work for those who are faint and lack strength. Those who love and serve Him have their strength renewed day by day.
The church advances in strength as it advances in holiness, for human strength fails but those who wait on the Lord receive renewed strength. Spiritual weakness comes from failing to grow up in faith in Jesus as the living Head and failing to live on the plan of addition, and heeding the promise to rise, run, and walk without weariness or fainting makes believers strong, able-bodied, useful, apt, courageous Christians of good report. No human agent is to limit the Holy One of Israel in this giving of power to the faint and increase of strength to those who have no might.
Though Satan has nearly obliterated the image of God in man, all who connect themselves with God will have His moral image restored in them. Hereditary peculiarity and deficiencies of character may be overcome through faith and the imputed righteousness of Christ, which is the new birth where old things pass away and all things become new. Head-reading by phrenology has done harm by turning souls away from the very work God has chosen for them, shaping their course by human counsel far from the counsel of God, but God through His own grace will give them fitness to do that work so they shall be successful agents cooperating with divine agencies.
He does not extinguish even the weakest spark of spiritual life or break the feeblest reed, but sustains the weak who are spiritually faint or helpless and come to Christ in humble sincerity. He gives this grace to the humble, in keeping with His example of stooping to serve and beautifying the meek with salvation.
He knows the limits of body and mind and gives strength for what He requires. Those who feel utterly weak and helpless can trust Him simply, rest in Jesus, and receive help and strength without trying to muster a severe effort of their own.
The verse belongs to God's call to His church to appreciate her exalted privilege in having the wisdom of the Infinite at her demand. The Lord alone is to be trusted, and men are not to trust in men or make flesh their arm, for He gives strength to His own people for diligent, earnest work of repentance, and He will not be trifled with.