Why waiting on God is better than wishing for the pandemic to end
By Dean Collins
I have close friends who hold opposing views on COVID-19. Maybe you can relate. Some are in the doubter category. It’s interesting that I have doubter friends who are completely polar opposites. Some say “follow the science” to argue that Covid-19 isn’t much different or harmful than the flu, but others use “follow the science” to prove it is much worse. And all of them have doubts about the political agendas that may be causing our current situation.
I have some friends who are uncertain what they think about Covid-19. They have seen enough people get sick and die to believe there’s something to be concerned about. At the same time, they hear such mixed views and have friends who express such varying strong opinions that they’re just uncertain what to believe.
The third category I’ll call the defectors. (I don’t like the word, but it will help me make my point.) I am not sure if I have friends in this third category because of Covid-19, but I know I have friends in this category due to other difficulties they experienced. They once were people of faith in God, but due to tragedy, disappointment, or maybe intellectual convenience they have chosen to chuck their faith in God and place their faith elsewhere.
I’m certain all of these friends, along with you and me, are growing more and more tired day by day. Regardless of our views, we can’t deny the significant disruption this pandemic has brought. It impacts our work routines, our family life, our medical treatment, our construction projects, our finances—virtually everything. Weary people are everywhere. And many of them are grasping to imagine an ending to our mess and our fatigue. Giving up becomes an option for many.
Similar struggles
I think the audience who received Isaiah’s message in the fortieth chapter may have also struggled in similar ways. Some of the exiled people of Judah were uncertain about what to believe about the future. Isaiah had proclaimed God would turn things around, but this was hard to accept because things had been so hard for a long time. They had faith, but they wavered as to whether it made any difference.
Some were likely flat-out skeptical about anything the man of God had to say. Maybe they were like those who just want to follow the science. The facts didn’t support the promises of a return to their homeland or a restored and renewed life. Yes, they had historical facts of previous works of God, but that was history and sometimes history feels awfully distant when facing current challenges.
And then there were those who just chose to walk away from God and toward whatever god, system, power, or idol was convenient.
At this moment Isaiah spoke words of hope. But it would require some faith to believe this message.
Isaiah reminded his listeners about the God of creation. The creative and almighty God of Genesis was still in control and possessed the same power to change moments in history and set new courses for his creation.
Isaiah spoke of comparing God to any and all options the skeptics were considering. But the prophet warned that there really isn’t a close comparison. The options would fade away like the burnt grass of a hot summer.
Desperately needed
And then Isaiah spoke words that the exiles were desperate to hear. They are the words to encourage any tired and fatigued believer: “The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary.”
This is such good news! You may be tired and ready to give up, but God is not. He is neither tired nor weary. He is ready and able. And while you may not see or be able to notice, he is active and working even now.
More good news: “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.” And he does this in just the way his Son offered: “Take my yoke…you will find rest.”
“Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted.” We know this reality. I see many students worn out from it all. We need this next generation not to give up. And while you and I share some fatigue, we must rise up to support, to teach, to guide, to encourage the youth so we won’t be left without them to lead our businesses, our churches, and our communities.
“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.”
I don’t like waiting, and I think I know you well enough to know you don’t either. And while waiting in a line somewhere for an understaffed business to complete the transaction feels the same as waiting on God, it isn’t. God is able and active. He can and will bring new strength. We can walk, run, and even soar when we turn to him in prayer and in faith.
Read these verses over and over. Pray them. Trust them. Hold on to the God who is able to do more than we can even imagine.
Your time with God’s Word
Isaiah 40:21-31 ESV
Photo by Mayan Sachan on Unsplash
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