Isaiah 40:28-31, “Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of His understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” (NLT)
A good friend of mine named Earl recently picked up a used pickup truck for a friend of ours. However, it’s when Earl started up the truck that the trouble began. You see, Earl (everybody’s friendly neighborhood mechanic) was taking the truck out for a test drive for Jim who had just bought it. And as he backed it out of the new owner’s garage, it suddenly started sputtering and stalling. He couldn’t keep it running no matter what he tried. He got to a phone and called the old owner and said, “What’s the deal with this truck you just sold?” Well, the man who sold it is an honorable man, and he was really distressed about this suddenly dysfunctional truck. Then suddenly he asked Earl, “Did you happen to mess with the radio at all?” Well, truth is, yes, he had. The previous owner told Earl to go check these two switches that are right next to the radio. You see, this truck has a wonderful feature, especially for the country roads that it travels so much. It has what they call a reserve gas tank. Earl had unknowingly turned off Tank 2, which was full of gas, and turned on Tank 1, which was totally empty. But the good news is that as soon as he switched from the empty tank to the reserve tank, Mr. Pickup Truck ran and ran and ran.
I’m assuming that your life runs pretty fast, and pretty hard much like mine. You have family, work, church, friends, schedules, children, business, school, leadership, health and financial check lists and the like. And because of it, there are times when your tank is basically empty. You’re totally exhausted, you have nothing left to give, your demands and responsibilities are much greater than the strength you have to meet them. And sometimes you just run out of ideas, you’re out of solutions, you’re out of motivation, you’re out of energy. Now why am I assuming that you know about an empty tank like this? Because I’m assuming you’re not that different from me or any other human being that has to face the grueling challenges of daily life.
But there is good news that gets delivered Right when your tank has nothing Left!
Isaiah 40:28 says, “Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He doesn’t grow tired or weary. His understanding is beyond human reach.” (CEB)
Now, in case you didn’t know, the God you belong to, the God who lives in you, is inexhaustible! And that wonderful word “inexhaustible” is defined as “of a never-ending supply; incapable of being used up because of its continual abundance; tireless; incapable of being wearied or worn out; impossible to use up completely; impossible to exhaust; plentiful enough not to give out or be used up.” It even has synonyms like: “unlimited, limitless, illimitable, infinite, boundless, endless, never-ending, unfailing, and everlasting.” This is talking about the God who holds you together when you’re ready to fall apart! He is what the theologians call infinite. And “infinite” is defined as “limitless in space, extent, or size; very great in amount or degree; the quality of having no limits or end, exceedingly great; unmeasurable.” And it comes with synonyms such as: “everlasting, foreverness, eternity, perpetuity, boundless, endlessness, permanence, and timelessness.” His resources and wisdom just never, ever run out, but yours do, and don’t feel bad because mine does as well. But as for God? He is never tired or weary! As the One who created the ends of the earth (still He is never tired or weary). And no matter what the problem or struggle is, His understanding of it is still beyond human reach. There is nothing we can bring to Him, that so perplexes us, will ever stress Him! He can handle anything and everything…now if only we’d stop thinking we can as well! God never runs low, or runs out, but we do. The good news is that when we do, we still have our connection to Him!
And here’s where the reserve tank kicks in. The passage continues, “He gives power to the tired and worn out, and strength to the weak. Even the youths shall be exhausted, and the young men will all give up.” (vss. 29-30 TLB). Another translation says it like this: “He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound]. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and [selected] young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted.” (vss. 29-30 AMPC). Any of the words here sound like you? “Weary, weak, tired, worn out, exhausted, feeble, faint, no might, stumble, and fall?” And what’s so interesting about this text is that even the “young” and the “selected” will not be exempt! You’d think the young would have nothing to complain about, but truth be told, life hits hard and it doesn’t care about your age! Even the youth will be exhausted and young men will all give up. And we can’t judge them either. Because you never know what someone’s struggle is. You may be 60 and battling with diabetes, but believe it or not, there’s a 6 year old battling cancer, and a 16 year old battling addiction. No one is exempt from running on empty! Not even the “select”! Listen to how this reads in a few translations:
“Even youths grow weary and tired, and VIGOROUS YOUNG MEN stumble badly.” (AMP); (“vigorous” is defined as “physical strength and good health.”)
“Young men get tired and need to rest. Even YOUNG BOYS stumble and fall.” (ERV);
“For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in THEIR PRIME stumble and fall.” (MSG); (“prime” is defined as “of the best possible quality; excellent.”)
“Even CHILDREN become tired and need to rest, and young people trip and fall.” (NCV);
“Even very young men get tired and become weak and STRONG YOUNG MEN trip and fall.” (NLV)
Even those who are physically strong, in good health, young, at their best possible level of quality, in excellent condition, are still tired, weary, need rest, stumble and fall, get weak and trip! So then why are you being so hard on yourself? Don’t attempt to ‘fake it till you make it.’ Be honest with yourself, if no one else, and admit that you’re exhausted…but don’t get stuck there…remember you still serve in Inexhaustible God!
You see, much like Earl, who got inside the pickup truck and immediately went to pressing buttons…we do the same thing. Pressing an unnecessary button (the radio) caused a necessary button (the reserve tank) to be switched off. Sometimes in life we think we know what we’re doing, but we don’t. And like Earl, who had to contact the person who owned the truck first and therefore knew it best, we need to go to God who created us first and knows us best to ask Him, “God what’s wrong with this?” Meaning, our life, our family, our finances and health, our choices, our decisions, our marriages, churches, ministries and businesses. “God why is this not working?” And as silly as it sounds, I’m certain we’ll get a response much like Earl did, “did you mess with the wrong button?” And if we’re honest and humble enough, we’ll admit that we did. Then we can have God tell us what to do next to fix it. And like Earl, it will be the same answer, switch to your reserve. And what’s your reserve tank?
Well, here’s what God promises to the totally overwhelmed and depleted person: “But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] will gain new strength and renew their power; they will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun]; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not grow tired.” (vs. 31).
When Earl’s Tank 1 on that truck was empty, the fuel in Tank 2 made all the difference! I can’t tell you how many times I have reached empty in my tank, and God’s never-empty tank has kicked in and it has made all the difference. After an exhausting week, I wake up and say, “God, I’m so tired.” He says, “I’m not.” I say, “I’m empty, Lord.” He says, “I know, but switch on My power. I’m not empty.” Which reminds me of the song I used to sing when I first got saved and I didn’t really understand it until life got a lot more complicated, but it simply says, “Little ones to Him belong, they are weak, but He is strong.”
I know men in particular, are “supposed” to be strong and able to handle anything and everything. But can I tell you how untrue that is. You are to be god-like, but you are never to attempt to be God. You will get tired and weary and worn out and exhausted. And none of that makes you a “weak man.” What makes you a “weak man” is when you think your source of strength and power comes from you alone!
2 Corinthians 12:9, “but He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough – always available – regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.” Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me.” (AMP)
Did you get that? No matter what you’re going through, God’s Grace, Lovingkindness and Mercy are Sufficient…More Than Enough…and Always Available…REGARDLESS OF THE SITUATION! There is nothing you can bring to God that He can’t handle in your life! Nothing that weakens you can weaken Him! In fact, His power is more evident and effective IN YOUR WEAKNESS! That’s why we can boast, because no matter what weakens us, God will always be our reserve of strength! Whether it’s divorce, debt or diabetes…God can handle any situation that’s draining you! But you have to contact Him, like Earl had to contact the previous owner of the pickup truck. God is waiting for you brothers and sisters to stop trying to be strong and hold it all together. He’s waiting for you to come to Him for Help!
Hebrews 4:16, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” The Amplified Bible says it like this: “Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment.” (AMP). And lastly, the Message Bible says it like this: “Now that we know what we have – Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God – let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all – all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to Him and get what He is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.” (MSG)
Now, I don’t know about you, but when I go to someone for advice and help, I like to know that they’ve already sat where I’m sitting. And who better to talk to about our weaknesses than one who has experienced weakness and overcame it?! This is our God who so desperately wants us to bring our failures, hurts, discouragement, disappointments, stress and struggles to Him. He wants us to bring Him our weaknesses and emptiness to Him.
Matthew 11:28-30, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (MSG)
Who knew that GRACE is the GAS we need to REFUEL?! And all we need to attain it is Honesty… “Lord, I’m exhausted and empty, please fill me again! Help me to rediscover Your reserve tank of strength, just for me!”
Listen: If you dwell on how stressed you are, or how tired, or how sick or overwhelmed, you’re done! That’s like sitting in a pickup truck dwelling on the empty tank! There’s no point to it, because that doesn’t change anything about it. But if, on those depleted days, you consciously focus on your Lord’s inexhaustible strength, your Lord’s unlimited power, you will be able to keep driving when you thought you couldn’t go another mile!
The songwriter of one of my favorite songs said it pretty well. “When we have exhausted our store of endurance; when our strength has failed ere the day is half done. When we’ve reached the end of our hoarded resources, our Father’s full giving has only begun.”
Remember, Even When You’re Exhausted, Never to Forget Your God is Inexhaustible! When You Need to Refuel, He is Your Reserve!
Today, Don’t Complain About Being Empty, Just Switch Tanks!
Isaiah 40:27-31, “Why would you ever complain, O Jacob, or, whine, Israel, saying, “God has lost track of me. He doesn’t care what happens to me?” Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening? God doesn’t come and go. God lasts. He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine. He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch His breath. And He knows everything, inside and out. He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts. For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, they run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind.” (MSG)
“God wants to fill all the desperate little corners of our souls with Himself.” (Author Unknown)
Let Him Do It! Let Him Refuel You With His Reserve! Take Your Empty Tank to the God Where the Scriptures Declare “…In His Presence is the Fullness of Joy!…” (Psalm 16:11)
“Your emptiness is but the preparation for your being filled, and your casting down is but the making ready for your lifting up.” (Charles Spurgeon)
“Nobody ever tells you that emptiness weighs the most.” (Author Unknown)
“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength.” (Corrie Ten Boom)
“It is only when you realize your nothingness, your emptiness, that God can fill you with Himself.” (Mother Teresa)
“The usefulness of the cup is its emptiness.” (Osho)
“God wants to fill all the desperate little corners of our souls with Himself.” (Author Unknown)
“No person, possession, profession, or position ever fills the cup of a wounded, empty heart. It’s an emptiness only God can fill.” (Lysa TerKeurst)
“God created a void in your heart that is only His to fill. When life becomes meaningless, boring, and hard it’s because we’ve been filling it with anything but Him.” (Author Unknown)
“There is no friendship, no relationship, no championship, no ownership that will satisfy any of your desires in this life like a relationship with God Almighty.” (Pastor Matthew Hagee)
“If you want to live in the fullness of God’s anointing, fill your mouth with His Word.” (Joyce Meyer)
“May your prayer life be filled with the fullness of God and His powerful love.” (Stacey Hitch)
“You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might also pray in the fullness of your joy and in your days of abundance.” (Khalil Gibran)
“It is only in the presence of God, we find the fullness of life and joy.” (Lailah Gifty Akita)
Much Love, Dr. Shermaine #EnjoyTheRead #BeInspired #BeEncouraged #BeEmpowered #BeChallenged #ShareTheWord
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