Be Still Devotional: Day 17

Devotion for Tuesday March 4
Daniel Guillaume | Missouri City Associate Pastor

Scripture
Isaiah 40:31
but they who wait for 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.

Devotional Thought
As a young boy, I was in a hurry for lots of things—like to stay up late with no curfew or to involve myself in adult activities way before they were appropriate—but nothing could compare to my impatience surrounding sports, specifically football. I couldn’t wait to hit harder, run faster, cause fumbles, grab interceptions, and, most importantly, score touchdowns.

But my impatience cost me more than just loss of yardage: it cost me a fundamental understanding of the mechanics and the gift of being coached. The moment I allowed myself to be coached, I began to understand skills that I thought I possessed and even arrogantly thought had already mastered. I no longer needed as many breaks; I could conserve and use my energy with more precision and accuracy, not only to develop but also to thrive.

The same can be said about our spiritual life: we are in a hurry to be of service to the Lord, but we forget we must first be “coached” by God, equipped by His Word, empowered by His Spirit, and emboldened by His Son. It’s not just enough for us to play the game but also to not tire ourselves out because we can wait on the God of Hosts for more strength, better ways to run, and more enjoyable walks.

The next time you find yourself hurrying through life’s challenges feeling depleted and fatigued, remind yourself to stop and wait on the Lord. You will not only find yourself renewed but that you have Godly endurance.

Reflection Questions

• When do you believe that you are the most impatient?
• In what ways has your lack of patience cost you?
• In what areas of life do you need to be renewed?

Suggested prayer/action step
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for being oh-so gracious in guiding us, equipping us, and emboldening us to endure. We ask that You help us to be mindful of the areas where we struggle so that we may wait upon You. Please continue to strengthen our resolve to be patient and help us and regard your strength as necessary from moment to moment. We honor your Word as not just instructive but also encouraging, that we may learn to seek endurance only through You.