Third Timothy

“Those who trust in the Lord will find new strength . . . they will walk and not faint.” (Isaiah‬ ‭40:31‬)

I skipped over the middle part of this verse because most of the time I am not concerned with flying like an eagle or running—I just need to somehow take the next step, to walk without fainting.

It makes me think of Jesus getting up off his knees in the garden and allowing the mob to take him away—they didn’t carry him, he walked; I think of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego standing before the fiery furnace and waiving their chance to be free if only they would bow down to the king’s statue; and Stephen declaring his love for Jesus as the crowd picked up stones to hurl at him.

It takes strength to stand firm, to walk in your faith even if not actually putting one foot in front of the other. When the moment demands a choice between life or death, it’s only God who can fill you with the confidence that comes with a promise of new life.

The trial that’s coming may threaten physical death, or it may risk the death of a relationship, or possibly worse, the death of a hope to which you’ve been clinging. Keep looking up—trust in the Lord for the strength to walk in it. It’s his hand that will pull you through.