Morning Devotional 022222 Have You Not Known?

Liz’s Morning Devotional based upon Upper Room

February 22, 2022

Read Isaiah 40: 27-31

27 Why do you say, Jacob, and declare, Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD, my God ignores my predicament”? 28 Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. He doesn’t grow tired or weary. His understanding is beyond human reach, 29 giving power to the tired and reviving the exhausted. 30 Youths will become tired and weary, young men will certainly stumble; 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.

Good Morning! Place your hope in the Lord for your strength will be renewed!

This passage has touched my heart and my soul so many times. God, our creator, never grows weary and is ready to help each and every time we call out.

I have had those times in my life when I was “dog-tired.” I was so tired that I didn’t know if I could take one more step. After working a long day, or enduring long hours, our bodies are tired. When we are physically tired, we must find time to rest, to step away.

For me, the more debilitating tiredness is emotional and/or spiritual tiredness. One problem is that we don’t necessarily know that we are becoming spiritually weary until we are to a place from which we don’t know how to return. Spiritual tiredness can manifest itself in many ways like mood swings or depression. When I am spiritually tired, I find that my body seems to begin to rebel and I have aches and pains that add to my challenges.

I remember a time when I was in a very bad work situation. Looking back, I can recognize the signs of struggle, but in that moment I was working so hard to just make it through the day that I wasn’t even aware of the toll it was taking on me. There were so many who needed to feel hope that I trudged on to light their way. Despite my best intentions, I also realize that during this time I was working really hard to be in control and manage this situation.

Fortunately, I was able to find a new position and with God’s help let my body heal. There was a member of my church who said to me one day, “I’m so glad that your light is back”! Funny, I didn’t realize that my light had burned out. In retrospect, I realize that God was by my side waiting for me to turn over control. I was burning all of my fuel to light the way, but I wasn’t taking time to replenish my stores and refresh my spirit.

When Jesus, in his human form, was teaching all who would listen, he would purposely take time to go away and pray. After He had sent them away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone. Matthew 14:23

Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and slipped out to a solitary place to pray. Mark 1:35

Jesus, the Son of God, taught us many things both in word and in action. As I type this message, I reconfirm my promise to myself to share my life with God and give over control, so that my light will never be without fuel. If you need to find me, look up . . . I’ll be soaring with the eagles.

Loving God, Thank You for loving us. You are perfection. made us in your image, but still, we find ways to mess up our lives. Thank you for carrying us when we are too weary to walk on our own. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen

Thought for the day: When I trust God, my strength is renewed.

Have you not heard? Pastor Liz