Read

Isaiah 40:31 "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."

Hebrews 12:1 "...let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."

Think

Ever felt like you're just done? Not just tired, but soul-weary? Like you're showing up, pushing forward, doing all the right things—and still running on empty?

There's a reason so many people resonate with burnout metaphors. Life often feels like a marathon without mile markers – and most of us are sprinting like it's a 5K. But what if the problem isn't our pace but the power source we're relying on?

Isaiah 40:31 doesn't say, "Those who hustle harder will soar." It says those who trust in the lord—those who wait on him, align with him, depend on him—will find new strength. The Hebrew word for "trust" here (qavah) means to bind together like cords being twisted into rope. It's not passive waiting. It's tethering your weakness to his strength.

Hebrews 12 adds another layer: run the race set before you. Not someone else's race. Not the highlight reel you're comparing yourself to. The race marked out for you. This means clarity doesn't come from looking around—it comes from looking up.

This is where running with God changes everything. When you run with someone, you're not just keeping pace—you're listening, adjusting, and syncing step by step. God isn't the coach yelling from the sidelines. He's the running partner beside you. Whispering strength when you're spent. Offering clarity when the path gets foggy. Reminding you that endurance isn't gritting your teeth; it's gripping his hand.

Theologian A.W. Tozer once said, "We go astray when we attempt to do spiritual work without spiritual power." No wonder we're exhausted. We're trying to carry eternal weight with finite strength.

But the gospel doesn't say, "Do more." It says, "Come to me, all who are weary, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). He's not calling you to tap into superhuman stamina. He's calling you to trade self-sufficiency for surrender.

If you're feeling drained, it might not be because you're doing too much—it might be because you're doing it without him.

Apply

Where are you relying on your own strength instead of his? Today, take ten intentional minutes to pause—not to check your phone or power through your list—but to reconnect with the one who gives strength to the weary. Talk to him. Ask him to reset your pace. Then, grab a journal or open a note on your phone and write down one area where you need his power more than your own effort.

Pray

God, you never run out of strength, even when I do. I confess that I've been running ahead, trying to power through in my own ability. Teach me to trust you more deeply. To run at your pace. To walk in step with your Spirit. I don't want to live exhausted—I want to live empowered. Fill me with your strength today. In Jesus' name. Amen.