Strength for the Weary in Isaiah 40
Feeling Worn Out?
Are you tired? Not just sleepy-tired, but worn out by life? Maybe it’s the demands of parenting, the stress of bills, health struggles, or just the heaviness of trying to keep up in a world that never slows down. The message of Isaiah 40 is for those who feel worn out—and it offers real hope.
A Turning Point in Isaiah
Isaiah 40 marks a major shift in the book of Isaiah. The first 39 chapters focus on judgment and warning, but beginning here, the theme becomes comfort and restoration. It’s a move from “you’ve sinned and will be punished” to “your sin is paid for.” The shift is personal and tender: “Comfort, comfort my people... speak tenderly to Jerusalem...” There’s also a double meaning—Israel’s exile is nearing its end, but more than that, this points forward to what only jesus could do. We can’t pay for our own sins, but he can. And he did.
Preparing the Way
Isaiah’s words also introduce a voice crying out in the wilderness—someone preparing the way of the lord. That voice is John the Baptist. He cleared the road for jesus by calling people to repent and ready their hearts. His message? “The glory of the lord will be revealed.” And it was. God came near, walked among us, and displayed his glory through healing, wisdom, and ultimately, the cross.
Behold Your God
Then Isaiah zooms out and gives one of the most jaw-dropping descriptions of God’s power and greatness: He holds oceans in his hand. He stretches out the heavens with a span of his fingers. He weighs mountains and calls out the stars by name. He needs no advice or instruction. Compared to him, the nations are a drop in a bucket. Rulers and kingdoms rise and fall, but God remains unshaken. He is beyond comparison.
Strength for the Weary
But this powerful God is also deeply personal. Isaiah asks: “Why do you complain, ‘My way is hidden from the Lord’?”And then comes the promise: “The Lord is the everlasting God… He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Even the young run out of steam. But those who hope in the Lord will be renewed. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. This doesn’t mean we’ll never get tired physically. But it does mean that God supplies supernatural strength—his Spirit alive in us—to face what we can’t handle on our own. He helps us forgive, endure, sacrifice, and love when we’re empty.
The Hope of Renewal
One day, this promise will be fulfilled in the most literal sense. Our broken bodies will be exchanged for new ones—strong, whole, and capable of soaring. Until then, we draw strength from the one who never grows tired, who created it all, and who invites us to rest in him. So if you’re tired—physically, emotionally, or spiritually—lift your eyes. Your God is big enough to handle the universe and personal enough to renew your strength. Hope in him.
Message recap adapted from March 23, 2025, message by Minister Mark Ashton
