Short answer: Isaiah 40:31 promises that those who put their hope in God — rather than relying on their own limited strength — will be renewed and sustained for the long journey of life. The strength it offers is not self-generated; it is received by waiting on the Lord.
The verse reads: "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" (Isaiah 40:31, KJV).
The context: strength for a weary people
Isaiah 40 speaks comfort to a people worn down and tempted to think God has overlooked them (40:27). The chapter builds a case for God's greatness — He measures the oceans in His hand and never grows tired (40:28) — and then verse 31 draws the conclusion: the God who never faints gives strength to those who wait on Him.
What each phrase means
- "They that wait upon the Lord." "Wait" here means to hope in, trust, and expectantly depend on God — not passive idleness, but active reliance.
- "Shall renew their strength." Literally, exchange their strength for God's. Where our resources run out, His supply begins.
- "Mount up with wings as eagles… run… walk." A deliberate sequence from soaring, to running, to walking. It covers the dramatic heights and the ordinary, plodding stretches — God's strength sustains both.
Cross-references
- 2 Corinthians 12:9 — "My strength is made perfect in weakness."
- Psalm 27:14 — "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage."
- Matthew 11:28 — "Come unto me, all ye that labour… and I will give you rest."
How to apply Isaiah 40:31 today
The verse meets people at the end of their own strength — burnout, chronic strain, long seasons of endurance. Its promise is not a burst of adrenaline but sustained renewal for the whole road, from the soaring days to the ones where you can barely walk. The condition is waiting on the Lord: trusting Him, drawing on His strength instead of frantically manufacturing your own.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to "wait upon the Lord"? It means to hope in, trust, and actively depend on God rather than on your own strength. It is not passive waiting around; it is the confident expectation that God will act and provide as you rely on Him.
Why does the verse list flying, running, and walking in that order? The order moves from the dramatic (soaring like an eagle) to the ordinary (walking). It promises God's strength for both the mountaintop moments and the long, unremarkable stretches where simply not fainting is the victory.
Is Isaiah 40:31 a promise that I will never feel tired? No. It promises renewal and sustaining strength for those who wait on God, not the removal of all weariness. Its comfort is that your own strength running out is not the end of the story — God's strength takes over.