Strength Under Tension

Read

Isaiah 40:31 "But those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Think

Have you ever felt stretched so thin that you thought you might snap? Maybe you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, or just plain weary of waiting—for answers, for breakthrough, for relief. You know God promises renewal, but right now, it feels like you’re barely holding on.

Waiting can feel like weakness, like being stuck in a season you never asked for. But the kind of waiting God calls us to isn’t passive—it’s active. The Hebrew word for “wait” in Isaiah 40:31 is qavah, which comes from qav, meaning “rope” or “cord.” Picture a rope pulled tight, stretched to its limit just before release. That’s what it means to wait on God—not to sit still, but to hold on with expectation, knowing he is at work even when you don’t see it yet.

And that’s why qavah is also translated as hope. We aren’t waiting in frustration or despair—we are waiting with trust. We lean into his presence, recall his past faithfulness, and allow the tension to strengthen us rather than break us. Renewal isn’t about escaping the struggle; it’s about being sustained through it.

Maybe today, you feel like you’re barely hanging on. But hear this: you are not forgotten. Your waiting is not wasted. God sees you in the tension, and he is preparing you for what’s next. Let the stretching draw you closer to him because release is coming. Renewal isn’t found in the absence of struggle—it’s found in the One who holds you through it.

Apply

Shift your focus from waiting to worship – Instead of dwelling on what hasn’t happened yet, spend time in worship. Put on a worship song, sing, or simply thank God for who he is. Worship reminds your heart that he is still in control.

Pray

Lord, in the tension of waiting, help me to trust that you are working even when I can’t see it. Strengthen my heart, renew my hope, and teach me to wait with expectation, not frustration. I choose to hold on to you, knowing that my waiting is never wasted in your hands. In Jesus’ name. Amen.