Yesterday I put away the Christmas decorations and started turning my mind toward the new year. Honestly - the thought of a "new" year is both exciting and exhausting. 

Why exciting?  Endless new opportunities and possibilities.

Why exhausting? Endless opportunities and possibilities require strength and energy!  Each year can be a continuation of trials and challenges or present entirely new ones.  Living life requires a lot of strength and energy. As such, it can take a lot out of you.  If I got an "amen" it probably means the past "new" years (plural) have presented trials, challenges, and opportunities that were exhausting. Rested and ready - or not - happy new year!

I don't know about you, but I need God's perspective or His Word for every aspect of my life - especially when it comes to strength.  I cannot muster up the strength needed to live life.  When it comes to the weariness from living life in a fallen world, there is no better soul food than Isaiah 40:28-31.

But wait.  Seriously, wait?  Waiting means sitting there doing nothing. Trying to get somewhere or accomplish something but being stopped.  Like waiting...

In traffic

At the doctor's office

To...

• Feel better

• Have a baby

• Get married

• For this crisis to be OVER

I don't like to wait.  Do you like to wait?  Seriously, wait?  But, wait a minute!  Have you not known?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth, He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable.  Truthfully, if we haven't heard and don't know - then kiss waiting goodbye.  So, if you don't know and haven't heard or you need a refresher, these studies really helped me put my waiting periods (another plural) in perspective:  Lord, I want to know you; Lord, where are you when bad things happen;  Joseph - Keeping your focus when your dreams are shattered.

Back to Isaiah 40:28-31.  What does it say will happen as a result of waiting on the Lord?  I don't know about you but I want these things.  No, I need these things!  I need renewed strength; the ability to run and not be weary - walk but not be faint. I need to mount up some wings like eagles. The note in my NAS Bible says "mount up" can also be translated "sprout wings".  Do you love it? Oh yeah, we need to sprout some wings!

How do we fly high in 2016?  How do we find the strength needed? Wait on the Lord.  Put our hope and trust in the Lord.  He's everlasting.  He's the Creator of everything.  He never grows faint or weary and His understanding of everything going on around us is unsearchable.  Oh my goodness, I think I am sprouting wings even as I type this.  

How are you doing?