Soaring Above the Storm: Finding Strength in God

Isaiah 40:21–31 NKJV

21 Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? 22 It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. 23 He brings the princes to nothing; He makes the judges of the earth useless. 24 Scarcely shall they be planted, Scarcely shall they be sown, Scarcely shall their stock take root in the earth, When He will also blow on them, And they will wither, And the whirlwind will take them away like stubble. 25 “To whom then will you liken Me, Or to whom shall I be equal?” says the Holy One. 26 Lift up your eyes on high, And see who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, By the greatness of His might And the strength of His power; Not one is missing. 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.

Soaring Above the Storm: Finding Strength in God

Have you ever felt you were in the middle of a storm rather than soaring above it?

Have you experienced some bad news that seemed to let the air out of the balloon that had been your life up to that point?

We might ask ourselves any number of questions when storms of life hit us. Some of them might include:

How long will this last?

Is God listening to my prayers?

Is there a way to find peace in this storm?

What did I do to deserve this?

What is the lesson or purpose in this trial?

What should I do next?

Who can I turn to for help?

Why do bad things happen to good people?

Why is this happening to me?

Will I ever feel happy or at peace again?

How can I find strength to get through this?

How can I trust God when everything is falling apart?

I was recently talking with my supervisor in our weekly meeting. I was reviewing my current patients and share what was going on with them. I was able to highlight some positive things that were happening with some of them. It always feels good to report the good news, particularly with the more challenging ones.

I finished talk about my patients and my supervisor had to cover a few admin things with me and she started with “I have some bad news about one of your patients.” She went on to talk about a tragic event that had occured with that patient.

I went from feeling positive and excited about what was happening with some of my patients and in those few words from her the air was let out of my balloon and I was left struggling with the tragedy and how to respond. I was left with lots of questions. In that moment I hear the door alarm in our waiting room letting me know that my next patient had arrived. I really have no idea of what we talked about because my mind was still reeling from the bad news I had received.

In that moment I breathed a quick prayer for strength, put my best face on and welcomed my next patient.

I needed verse 31 in that time.

Isaiah 40:31 CEB

31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength; they will fly up on wings like eagles; they will run and not be tired; they will walk and not be weary.

What a tremendous promise for those who’s hope is in the Lord.

When life gets tough and everything feels like a big storm, it's really easy to feel like you're all by yourself, struggling to find a little bit of light in all the darkness. We often ask hard questions when we're alone, hoping for some answers that never seem to come. That's when the words from this passage come into play, shining like a beacon of hope and strength. This passage is like a message from God, telling us that we're not alone in our troubles.

These verses make us look up from our problems and see how amazing and powerful God is. It talks about how God created everything around us—the oceans, the stars, the mountains—and how He's in charge of all of it. This isn't just to show how big God is, but to remind us that He cares about the little things in our lives too.

Isaiah 40:21-31 talks about how people can get tired and weak, but God's energy and strength never run out. He's always there to give a boost to those who are feeling down. The promise here is huge—it says that if we keep our hope in God, He'll make us strong again. This isn't just something nice to say; it's God's promise to help us stand tall and keep going.

So, as we go through this passage together, let's really listen to what it's saying. It's like a comforting hug, telling us that we're never really alone. God, who made everything from the biggest star to the smallest grain of sand, is with us in every challenge. By turning to Him, we find not just the strength to get by, but the ability to rise up like eagles, to run without getting tired, and to walk without giving up. That's the kind of hope and help God gives us, guiding us through the storm into a new day.

Recognizing Our Limitations, Embracing God's Sovereignty

Life often throws us into situations that feel way bigger than what we can handle. Whether it's school stress, family issues, or personal challenges, these moments make us feel pretty small and powerless. It's like trying to hold back the ocean waves with just your hands—impossible, right? This feeling of being overwhelmed is actually a starting point for something incredibly important: realizing that we have limits.

Isaiah 40:21-31 starts by asking us some pretty big questions about the universe and who's really in charge. It talks about God measuring the oceans in the palm of His hand and weighing the mountains on scales. When we think about that, our problems and challenges start to look a lot smaller. It's not about making us feel insignificant but helping us see the big picture. There's this amazing, powerful God out there who's got everything under control, even when it feels like our world is turning upside down.

This part of Isaiah challenges us to face our limitations head-on and to understand that it's okay not to have all the answers or solutions. It's a call to lean into the fact that God is sovereign—He's in charge of everything, from the biggest galaxies to the smallest details of our lives. Embracing God's sovereignty doesn't mean giving up or saying our efforts don't matter. Instead, it's about finding peace in the truth that we're part of a bigger plan, one that's guided by a God who's both incredibly powerful and deeply loving.

Warren Weirsbe in his commentary on this passage wrote:

Be Comforted Chapter Nine: How Great Thou Art! (Isaiah 40–48)

Someone has defined “circumstances” as “those nasty things you see when you get your eyes off of God.” If you look at God through your circumstances, He will seem small and very far away; but if by faith you look at your circumstances through God, He will draw very near and reveal His greatness to you.

We all have things we're good at and things we're not so good at, and there's a lot we don't know or can't handle on our own. When Isaiah talks about how God can measure the oceans with His hand or weigh mountains, it's a way to show us just how big God is and how small our own problems are in comparison. Realizing that we're not able to do everything by ourselves isn't a bad thing. It actually helps us to remember to lean on God, who has unlimited power and knowledge. This doesn't make us less important; it just means we're part of something bigger and that we need to trust God to help us where we can't help ourselves.

It's normal to want to rely on ourselves or look up to others, whether it's celebrities, leaders, or even our own skills. But people and things change; they can't always be there for us or offer the help we need. Isaiah reminds us that even powerful people and nations aren't as strong or lasting as God. Instead of putting all our hope in things that can disappear or fail, we should put our trust in God. He's always stable, always there, and never changes. This doesn't mean we shouldn't try our best or trust people at all; it just means our biggest hope should be in God because He's the only one who won't let us down.

When we get that God is really in charge of everything, it doesn't mean we just sit back and do nothing. It means we can feel safe and find direction in our lives knowing that someone bigger and wiser is looking out for us. God's in control, which means even when things get tough, we're not alone.

This idea helps us see our problems in a new way. We can face hard times not as impossible challenges, but as chances to grow closer to God and learn to trust Him more. It encourages us to ask for God's help when we're making decisions, to listen for what He might be telling us, and to hold onto His promises when we're feeling swamped.

The writer of the Proverbs wrote:

Proverbs 3:5–6 NKJV

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Understanding our limits and knowing God's in charge helps us balance trying hard with trusting God, making plans while also praying, and aiming high but also being okay with letting God take the lead. This doesn't make us less active in our lives; it just means we know we're part of a bigger plan that God has in store for us. It's a faith journey that helps us grow, rely on God more, and find our true strength and purpose in what He wants for us.

The Unfailing Source of Strength

Now that we've talked about understanding our own limits and how important it is to trust that God has everything under control, let's move on to the next big idea: The Unfailing Source of Strength.

When we face tough times, it's natural to feel worn out or even a bit lost. Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, we just can't seem to find the energy to keep going. But here's the good news: even when we feel like we've hit rock bottom, there's a place we can turn to for a strength that never runs out—God.

Isaiah tells us that God doesn't just have a little bit of power; He has endless energy and strength to share with us. It's like having a battery that never dies. And the best part? God is always ready to share that strength with us, especially when we're feeling weak or tired.

This isn't just about knowing God is powerful; it's about learning how to actually draw on that power in our everyday lives.

Life can get really tough sometimes, making us feel exhausted or even ready to give up. But there's a secret to getting through these hard times: God's endless strength. Think of God like a power source that never runs out of juice. No matter how low we feel, God's power and support are always available to us.

Ever felt so tired you just couldn't go on? Well, God specializes in giving strength to people who feel just like that. It's like when your phone is on 1% battery, and you plug it into a charger. God's strength charges us up when we're running on empty. This means when we're too weak to face our problems, God steps in with His power to help us keep moving.

In Matthew 11:28, where Jesus invites those who are weary to find rest in Him:

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

This invitation from Jesus speaks to the idea of finding not just physical strength but also emotional and spiritual rest by relying on God. It's a call to bring our worries, fears, and exhaustion to Him and receive peace and rejuvenation in return.

One of the coolest promises from God is that He can make us feel fresh and ready to go again, even when we're totally worn out. It's not just about getting a little boost to help us drag ourselves through the day. It's about feeling so energized it's like we've had a full night's sleep and are ready to take on the world. When we trust in God, He renews our energy in a way that helps us face our challenges without giving up.

So, how do we actually get this amazing strength from God? It starts with trusting Him and believing that He will give us what we need. This isn't always easy, especially when things look really bad. But leaning on God means we're not facing our troubles alone. It's about handing over our worries and fears to Him and letting Him lead the way. This trust doesn't just give us a little help; it opens the door to God's powerful strength that can get us through anything.

The Bible offers guidance on how to receive God's strength. Here are some verses that answer the question, "How do we actually get this amazing strength from God?"

Ephesians 6:10

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power."

Here, we're reminded to find our strength not within ourselves, but in the Lord and His power. It suggests that embracing God's strength is a choice we make, by relying on Him and His might rather than our own.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

This passage highlights a profound spiritual principle: acknowledging our weaknesses and relying on God's grace is what allows His power to work fully in us. It teaches us that God's strength shines brightest when we admit our own limitations and depend on Him.

These verses collectively teach that receiving God's strength involves drawing close to Him, seeking Him through prayer, embracing our weaknesses, and trusting in His promises and presence.

As we move forward, remember that God's strength isn't just a nice thought; it's a real help that we can count on in tough times. By trusting in God and leaning on His strength, we find the power to keep going, no matter what life throws at us. Let's keep this in mind as we explore how trusting in God's strength can change the way we face our challenges.

After understanding how God provides endless strength to those who are tired and how we can tap into this divine power by drawing closer to Him, let's move to our third and final point: Soaring Above the Storm.

We've seen that God doesn't just offer us a little bit of help; He gives us the kind of strength that can completely change how we face our challenges. Now, we're going to explore what it means to not just get through tough times but to rise above them, using the strength God gives us to soar like eagles above life's storms.

Soaring Above the Storm: What It Means

Imagine an eagle flying high above a storm. While the storm rages below, the eagle is up in the calm skies, gliding peacefully. This is a picture of what God offers us. It's not just about surviving tough times but thriving through them, with a peace and strength that come from knowing God is with us.

To "soar above the storm" means we're not weighed down by our problems. Instead, we have a new perspective and confidence because of the strength God gives us. It's about moving forward with hope and not getting stuck in our struggles.

When we talk about soaring above the storm, it's all about seeing things differently. Just like an eagle that flies high above the clouds, we can learn to look at our problems from a higher viewpoint. This doesn't mean our problems disappear, but it does mean we don't let them control us. With God's strength, we can face our challenges without fear, knowing we're not alone. It's about trusting that God has a plan for us, even when things seem messy from where we're standing. By relying on God, we gain the confidence to navigate through tough times with a positive attitude, focusing on what we can learn and how we can grow instead of just how hard things are.

One of the amazing things about God's strength is that it brings peace, even when everything around us is chaotic. This peace isn't just feeling calm; it's a deep sense that everything will be okay because God is in control. It's like being in the eye of the storm—where it's calm and clear—even though the storm is still raging around you. This peace helps us not to panic or make rash decisions but to make choices with a clear mind, guided by God's wisdom. It reminds us that no matter what's happening, God's got this, and He's got us.

Finally, soaring above the storm means we're not just getting by; we're moving forward with hope. God's strength doesn't just pull us out of tough times; it pushes us into a brighter future. It's about knowing that with God, there's always light at the end of the tunnel. This hope is not just wishful thinking; it's based on the promises God has made to us—that He'll never leave us, that He has plans for our good, and that He can use even the bad stuff for something amazing. With this hope, we're motivated to keep going, to keep growing, and to keep looking forward to what God has in store for us.

As we wrap up, remember that God's invitation to soar above the storm is open to everyone. It doesn't matter how strong you are, how much faith you have, or how big your problems seem. What matters is that you're willing to trust God, to let Him be your strength, and to let Him lift you above the storms you face. With God, we're not just surviving; we're thriving, moving forward with a new perspective, peace in our hearts, and hope for the future.

As we come to the close of our journey today, reflecting on the powerful message of Isaiah 40:21-31 and the truths we've explored, let's hold tightly to the promise that, with God, we are never merely enduring life's storms but are being equipped to soar above them.

So, as we step out from this place today, let's take with us the assurance that God is with us, His strength is for us, and His promises are true.

Let's remember that no storm is too great, no night too dark, and no mountain too high for those who find their strength in God. With hearts lifted and eyes fixed on Him, we can and will soar on wings like eagles, run and not grow weary, walk and not be faint.

May we leave here renewed, not just in our minds but in our spirits, ready to face whatever comes our way with the confidence that comes from knowing God is on our side. Let us walk into our weeks, our challenges, and our lives with the boldness of those who have seen the face of God in their moments of need and found Him faithful.

Let's pray together, asking God to seal these truths in our hearts, to be our strength in weakness, our peace in turmoil, and our hope in despair. And may we always remember to look up, for it's there, in the presence of God, that we find the strength to soar above the storm. Amen.