Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day.  2 Corinthians 4:16, TLV

As another birthday approaches and the knees and ankles creak and moan — or maybe it’s just me doing the moaning — I take comfort in this verse. What you see on the outside is nothing compared to what God is doing on the inside.

You may see the mundane in my wrinkling and sagging skin, but there is a fireworks display of renewal going on in my spirit.

Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall,
but they who wait for Adonai
    will renew their strength.
They will soar up with wings as eagles.
They will run, and not grow weary.
They will walk, and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:30-31, TLV [Emphasis Mine]

We may be confined to a bed or wheelchair or walker or we run marathons or work in obscurity, but, my friends, we can soar. And even though we may be hard-pressed on every side, we can run and not grow weary. We are jars of clay (vs. 7) filled to the brim with lifegiving Living Water.

This is not something we work up inside ourselves. We don’t have mantras and depend entirely on positive thinking. No, the Creator of the Universe is our Father. Because we are His redeemed children — redeemed by the precious blood of His Son — we will take each step of this faith walk and not grow faint. We do this by living His Word. Looking to Him, even though around us is scary stuff — including our uncooperative bodies.

Don’t lose heart …

If we’re feeling weary and our bones ache, don’t lose heart. Know that our spirit is ready to take flight! The Father is holding out His hand right now. Let’s soar with Him!