Isaiah 40:31 Meaning
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
What does Isaiah 40:31 mean?
Isaiah 40:31 is a promise for the exhausted. It comes at the close of a chapter reminding a tired people just how great their God is — and then makes a surprising claim about where new strength is found.
The key is “they that wait upon the LORD.” To wait, here, is not passive idling; it is a posture of hopeful dependence — looking to God, relying on him, expecting him to act. Renewed strength is promised to those who wait, not to those who strive hardest.
The images climb and then, tellingly, come back down to earth: mounting up “with wings as eagles,” running “and not be weary,” and finally walking “and not faint.” That last one may be the greatest miracle — the strength to keep plodding faithfully through the long, unremarkable stretches when there is no soaring in sight.
If you are worn out, this verse points you away from digging deeper into your own reserves and toward waiting on God, who renews the strength of those who lean on him.