Isaiah 40:28-31
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in 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.
Tim and I stopped by the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial
Park to gaze at the Ohio River and watch the birds and other wildlife. Across
the road we checked out the bridge dedicated to the 18th President. I enjoyed
seeing the plaque of Grant in his Civil War Uniform and the lanterns and
miniature cannon that graced the corners. On the way back to the Jeep, I
noticed a wooden fence row that stretched across one end of the small park.
Tiger lilies shot up through the slats as if they were poised to announce,
"Attention, please. This is where Ulysses S. Grant was born."
The lilies appeared to trumpet good news. Just
like Isaiah 40 proclaims—"Do you not know? Have you not heard?" I
have heard the news, and I am so grateful. Some days I am exhausted. My energy wanes
and I crave rest. But guess what, God renews my strength, because I place my
hope in him. He alone gives me the energy I need. He helps me walk, when I can
no longer go. I mean that literally and spiritually. There are days when my bum
knee doesn't want to move, but God lifts me up with his encouragement and keeps
me on my feet. Because I know Jesus loves me and supports me, I want to shout
like the lilies, "The Lord is the everlasting God." He loves me and
cares for me, even the everyday things. He is the hope this world needs.
