They That Wait Upon the Lord

Adapted from a sermon by Pastor Ruffin Hill

The first time this church met was the first Sunday in January of 2002. We gathered in a daycare building, cooked breakfast together, and opened our Bibles to Isaiah chapter 40. From that first service until today, this chapter has held a special place in the life of our church. For several years it was preached every first Sunday of the year, and now it is revisited every so often, each time with deeper understanding and greater life experience.

Isaiah chapter 40 marks a turning point in the book of Isaiah. The first thirty‑nine chapters focus heavily on judgment, while chapter forty begins a message of comfort, hope, and deliverance. Many scholars note that Isaiah mirrors the structure of the Bible itself: sixty‑six chapters, with a dramatic shift after chapter thirty‑nine. This is not a change of authorship, but a change of emphasis. God is speaking comfort to His people.

This chapter can rightly be understood prophetically, pointing us to Jesus Christ. But it also speaks personally and practically to believers today. The message is timeless, and its application reaches into our daily lives.

Comfort and the Promise of Redemption

The opening verses of Isaiah 40 deliver a clear command: God’s people are to be comforted. Their warfare is accomplished, their iniquity pardoned. This is good news, and it mirrors the gospel message we proclaim today. The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ that brings redemption and peace.

A voice cries in the wilderness, preparing the way of the Lord. Every obstacle will be removed. Valleys will be lifted, mountains brought low, and crooked paths made straight. God is declaring that nothing can hinder His purpose.

Human Frailty and God’s Eternal Word

Isaiah reminds us that all flesh is like grass. Life fades. Strength fails. Beauty withers. But the Word of God stands forever. While everything else is temporary, God’s promises remain firm and unchanging.

The chapter then lifts our eyes to the greatness of God. He feeds His flock like a shepherd. He measures the waters in the hollow of His hand and weighs the mountains on scales. Nations are nothing compared to His power. Idols are exposed as foolish substitutes for the true and living God.

A People Discouraged and Afraid

In verses 27 through 31, Isaiah addresses a discouraged people. Israel is in captivity, suffering the consequences of disobedience, and they begin to say, “My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God.”

God responds by reminding them who they are and who He is. He calls them Jacob and Israel—names that carry deep meaning. Jacob, the trickster, became Israel, a nation chosen by God. These were God’s covenant people. Their history was filled with evidence of His faithfulness: deliverance from Egypt, provision in the wilderness, victory over enemies.

Yet in their hardship, they believed God had forgotten them.

God’s Power and Unchanging Nature

God answers their despair with questions. Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God does not faint or grow weary. He is the Creator of the ends of the earth. His understanding is beyond searching.

God has no beginning and no end. He does not weaken with time. His power does not diminish. He does not need rest, and His purposes cannot be stopped or altered. What He has declared will stand.

The Strength God Provides

God gives power to the faint and increases strength to those who have none. Even the young grow tired and fall, but those who wait upon the Lord will be renewed.

Waiting upon the Lord does not mean passively hoping for circumstances to change. It means serving Him, committing ourselves to His will, and trusting Him fully. It is the posture of a servant who attends to his master.

When we do this, God promises strength that is not natural. He promises renewal. He promises endurance.

Those who wait upon the Lord will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. These are supernatural outcomes made possible by reliance on God, not self‑confidence.

Living Victoriously in Hard Places

God’s promise was given to people living in captivity. The message was clear: victory is possible even in hard places, not because of who we are, but because of who God is.

We often enter new seasons believing we can change through our own strength. But lasting change only comes when we exchange our strength for His. When hardship comes, God’s strength sustains us.

A Personal Testimony of God’s Faithfulness

In a season of personal crisis, when a serious accident left a loved one critically injured, it was tempting to question God. But over time, His hand became evident. Healing came. Life continued. Strength was supplied when human strength failed.

God’s help is available, but it comes through trust, service, and surrender.

A Call to Trust and Commitment

This promise is not for everyone. It is for those who know the Lord, not merely knowing about Him, but having trusted Him personally. Life without God is far heavier than life with Him.

If you know Him, commit yourself fully to Him. If you do not, there is no more important decision than placing your trust in Jesus Christ.

Those who wait upon the Lord will find that He has not forgotten them. He never has, and He never will.