Putting Your Hope Where It Belongs - Advent Devotional Day 8

Scripture
"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." - Isaiah 40:31

Reflection
I’m one of those “weird” people who runs voluntarily. I’m not fast or a professional by any means. Mostly, I just like to get outside in my neighborhood and log some miles while listening to an interesting podcast and burning off some stress.

Sometimes I set out on a run feeling energized, ready to tackle the workout and enjoying myself along the way. And sometimes I set out on a run already feeling tired, dreading the hills/wind/weather, and hating every step of the way.

Life can feel that way, too. Some days you wake up ready to face whatever challenges and obstacles may come your way. And other days you wake up already tired, feeling defeated before you’ve even dragged yourself out of bed.

On those dark days, it matters who I rely on. When I put my hope in myself, I fall short. I stay tired, pessimistic, defeated. But when I put my hope in God - it’s like receiving a “second wind” that allows me to keep going. God provides that kick in the pants that gets me out of bed and back to living my life.

Prayer
God, our world is fast-paced, and we try to convince ourselves that we can keep up, that we can do it all if we just dig deeper, and that somehow it’s all resting on our shoulders. But, when it’s all up to us, we fall short and we fall flat on our faces. Thank you for being there for us. Thank you for picking us up, dusting us off, and giving us the courage and strength to keep going. Help us remember that you’ve got this, we’re not alone, and with you we can accomplish far greater things than we ever could on our own. Amen.