Renewed Strength: An Inductive Bible Study on Isaiah 40:31
Hi friends! I’m Trish Stark, a Christian wood stain artist who loves to create art that reflects God’s Word. My prayer is that each piece — and each study — will point us back to the Lord’s promises of strength, encouragement, and truth for our daily walk.
Today we’re looking at one of the most beloved verses in Scripture: Isaiah 40:31. We’ll walk through it together using the inductive Bible study method — Observation, Interpretation, and Application.
Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)
“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.”
1. Observation
Before we dive into the details, let’s take a look at the context.
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Speaker: The Prophet Isaiah — but he is speaking as God’s mouthpiece.
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Audience: The people of Israel, God’s covenant people.
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Setting: Isaiah 40 marks a turning point in the book. Chapters 1–39 focus on warning and judgment, but beginning in chapter 40, the tone shifts to comfort and hope.
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Background: In verses 1–2, God tells Isaiah to “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people.” The people faced exile and hardship, but God’s words brought encouragement and assurance.
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Leading verses: In Isaiah 40:28–30, we see the contrast between God’s endless strength and human weakness — setting the stage for verse 31’s powerful promise.
Key Observations in the Verse:
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This promise is for “they that wait upon the LORD.” It’s not universal, but directed to those who actively trust and hope in Him.
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Four promises are given:
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Renewed strength
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Soaring like eagles
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Running without weariness
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Walking without fainting
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Notice the progression: soaring, running, walking — covering every pace of life.
2. Interpretation
Now, let’s explore the meaning of these key phrases with some cross-reference scriptures.
“Wait upon the LORD”
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Hebrew: qavah — to wait, look for, hope in, expect. It’s not passive; it’s active trust and anticipation.
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Picture a child waiting with wide eyes for a gift — expectant and confident it will come.
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Cross References:
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Psalm 27:14 – “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart…”
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Lamentations 3:25 – “The LORD is good unto them that wait for him…”
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“Renew their strength”
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Hebrew: halap — to change, exchange, or substitute. We trade our weakness for God’s power.
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Cross References:
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Ephesians 3:16 – “…to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.”
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Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
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“Mount up with wings as eagles”
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The phrase “mount up” means to be lifted or taken up.
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Think of a child leaping upward when joy bursts forth — or an eagle soaring effortlessly, carried by the wind.
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Cross Reference:
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Ephesians 2:6 – “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”
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“Run, and not be weary / Walk, and not faint”
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This speaks of sustained endurance in the race of life.
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Cross References:
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Hebrews 12:1–2 – “…let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…”
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Galatians 6:9 – “…let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
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3. Application
So how do we live this out?
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Spiritually: Waiting on the Lord means trusting His timing, resting in His strength, and expecting His renewal.
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Emotionally: When life drains us, God’s renewal is deep and personal.
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Physically: He cares about our endurance — whether in moments of soaring victory, long stretches of running service, or the daily faithfulness of walking.
God’s promise covers every pace of life. His strength never runs out, even when ours does. And waiting is never wasted — it’s where God equips us for what’s ahead.
Closing Encouragement
Friend, if you feel weary today, remember this promise:
“They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength.”
Wait. Trust. Soar.
Keep your eyes on Jesus, and you’ll find yourself lifted on His strength — running without weariness, walking without fainting, and soaring like eagles.
God bless you!