“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

You’ve probably seen this verse on coffee mugs, wall decorations, and graduation cards. But is it just inspirational poetry, or does it offer genuine help for Christians facing real trials today? The Reformed tradition provides a clear, Scripture-backed answer: the promise is absolutely for us now—but not in the way many people think.

 

THE VERSE IN CONTEXT

To understand what Isaiah 40:31 truly means, we must first examine its historical setting and literary context, allowing Scripture to interpret Scripture.

Historical Setting

• Isaiah’s comfort to exiled Israel: This verse comes in the middle of Isaiah’s message to God’s people during their Babylonian exile (Isaiah 40:1-2). They weren’t looking for motivational slogans—they needed real hope in desperate circumstances. The historical context shows this promise addresses immediate spiritual needs, not distant future events.
• God’s sovereignty over nations and history: The surrounding verses (40:15-17) establish that God controls the rise and fall of empires. Even mighty Babylon is “like a drop from a bucket” before Him. This context assures the exiles that their current suffering serves God’s larger purposes.
• The contrast between human frailty and divine power: Isaiah deliberately juxtaposes human weakness—“all flesh is grass” (40:6-8)—with God’s eternal strength. This sets up the promise of verse 31 as a theological solution to a universal human problem.

Literary Context

• Rhetorical questions about God’s power: Isaiah asks, “To whom will you liken God?” (40:18) and “Have you not known? Have you not heard?” (40:21). These questions build toward the climactic promise of verse 31. The literary flow shows this isn’t random encouragement but a carefully constructed theological argument.
• The immediate context: human exhaustion Verse 30 states that “even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall.” This directly contrasts with those who wait on the Lord in verse 31. The immediate context proves this is about present spiritual strength, not future physical abilities.
• Theological progression: from weakness to strength The chapter moves systematically from acknowledging human limitations to proclaiming divine provision. This progression shows that God’s strength is the answer to our present weakness, not a reward for future faithfulness.

Sound Hermeneutics

• Scripture interprets Scripture: Rather than imposing external meanings, we let other biblical passages explain this one. Cross-references like 2 Corinthians 12:9 and Romans 8:37 confirm God’s strength works through our present weakness. This interpretive method prevents speculative readings that lack biblical warrant.
• Historical-grammatical method over allegorical speculation: Reformed interpretations focus on what the text meant to its original audience before applying it to us. Isaiah’s first readers needed present help, not prophecies about future supernatural abilities. This method grounds our interpretation in solid biblical scholarship rather than wishful thinking.

 

THE REFORMED CONSENSUS: PRESENT SPIRITUAL REALITY

The Reformed tradition appears unanimous in interpreting Isaiah 40:31 as describing current spiritual benefits available through faith, not future physical transformation.

“Wait Upon the Lord”—Active Faith, Not Passive Hope: The Hebrew word qavah means expectant trust and confident dependence. This isn’t sitting around hoping things improve—it’s active faith that trusts God’s character and promises. The Westminster Confession defines faith as “receiving and resting upon Christ alone,” which captures this same confident dependence. Cross-references like Psalm 27:14 and Lamentations 3:25-26 consistently use this word for active trust, not passive waiting.

Present faith, not future fulfillment: The Hebrew grammar suggests ongoing, continuous action—those who continually wait on the Lord continually receive renewed strength. This is about exercising faith now, not waiting for some future time when God will finally act.

“Renewed Strength”—Spiritual Empowerment: The Hebrew word koach refers to inner strength and capability: This isn’t physical power but the spiritual capacity to fulfil God’s calling despite difficult circumstances. Calvin’s commentary emphasises that God supplies what we lack through our union with Christ. The strength comes not from within ourselves but from our connection to the inexhaustible source.

Second Corinthians 12:9 perfectly illustrates this principle: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” The Heidelberg Catechism teaches that our “only comfort in life and death” is belonging to Christ—this is the renewed strength Isaiah promises.

 

THE EAGLE METAPHOR—PRESENT SPIRITUAL SOARING

Eagles symbolise spiritual elevation, not physical transformation: The eagle metaphor represents rising above circumstances through faith, not literal flight. This means gaining God’s perspective on our trials, seeing them through the lens of His sovereignty and grace.

Paul says believers are already “seated with Christ in the heavenly places.” This present spiritual reality matches Isaiah’s eagle metaphor—we soar above our circumstances now through faith, not in some future state. The Westminster Shorter Catechism teaches that our chief end of glorifying God is realised in this present life through such spiritual elevation.

 

ADDRESSING THE “FUTURE FULFILLMENT” QUESTION

While some interpret Isaiah 40:31 as describing coming kingdom realities, this reading fails to meet Reformed interpretive standards and contradicts systematic theology.

Why This Interpretation Fails:

• It lacks clear scriptural warrant for eschatological reading: No other biblical passage clearly connects Isaiah 40:31 to end-times events or physical transformation. This violates the analogy of faith (*analogia fidei*), which requires unclear passages to be interpreted by clearer ones. Louis Berkhof’s systematic theology maintains careful distinction between present justification benefits and future glorification.
• It contradicts the immediate context and purpose: Isaiah wrote to comfort present exiles with present hope, not to give prophecies about distant future abilities. The historical-grammatical method requires us to understand what the text meant to its original audience before applying it to ourselves.

Reformed theology carefully distinguishes between spiritual benefits we enjoy now and physical transformation we await. Passages such as Romans 8:37 describe present victory through Christ. Isaiah 40:31 clearly belongs to the “already” category—present spiritual strength—not the “not yet” of physical transformation.

New Testament applications emphasise present endurance: When Paul uses similar language in Romans 8:25 and Galatians 6:9, he’s encouraging present faithfulness through present grace, not pointing to future supernatural abilities. This consistent pattern confirms Isaiah’s promise applies to current Christian experience.

 

PRACTICAL APPLICATION FOR BELIEVERS TODAY

This isn’t just theory—Isaiah 40:31 provides real help for Christians facing genuine trials in daily life.

The Puritan tradition emphasised God’s strength is perfected in our acknowledged weakness. We access this strength through the ordinary means of grace: prayer, Scripture study, fellowship, and the sacraments. Herman Bavinck’s Reformed Dogmatics describes the Christian life as constant dependence on God—exactly what Isaiah 40:31 promises. This daily dependence transforms ordinary believers into spiritually resilient people.

Isaiah’s promise isn’t about escaping hardship but receiving grace to endure it faithfully. Romans 5:3-5 teaches suffering actually produces endurance, character, and hope when we trust God’s purposes. 1 Peter 1:6-7 similarly describes how tested faith proves more precious than gold. The “eagle’s wings” experience means rising above circumstances not by changing them, but by gaining God’s perspective on them through faith.

Isaiah 40:31 absolutely applies today—as a present spiritual promise for current trials, not a future physical transformation. This renewed strength empowers us for God’s calling, not our personal ambitions. Calvin consistently taught that true spiritual strength comes through acknowledged weakness and dependence on God. Whether in pastoral ministry, evangelism, or family devotion, we serve effectively not through human capability but through divine strength working in and through our limitations.

 

EAGLES WINGS: ISAIAH 40—RELATED FAQs

Why do we reject the “prosperity gospel” interpretation of Isaiah 40:31? Modern Reformed theologians like Sinclair Ferguson and RC Sproul argue that prosperity gospel readings turn Isaiah 40:31 into a divine vending machine—put in faith, get out success. This contradicts the verse’s context of suffering exiles and ignores the consistent biblical pattern where God’s strength often works through continued hardship rather than elimination of trials. True biblical strength enables faithful endurance, not automatic escape from difficulties.

• How do contemporary scholars handle the eagle metaphor specifically? Derek Thomas and Iain Duguid emphasise that eagles in ancient Near Eastern literature symbolised divine perspective and transcendence over earthly concerns. The metaphor isn’t about physical capabilities but about viewing life from God’s vantage point rather than being trapped in human-centred thinking. This aligns with Colossians 3:1-2’s command to “set your minds on things above”—a present spiritual reality available through faith.
• What do modern Reformed commentators say about the Hebrew word order in Isaiah 40:31? Alec Motyer and John Oswalt note that the Hebrew places “those who wait on the Lord” in emphatic position, stressing the character of the people rather than the nature of their waiting. The grammar suggests habitual dependence rather than one-time crisis faith. This supports the Reformed emphasis on sanctification as a lifelong process of growing dependence on God rather than a crisis experience.

How do we address the “run and not be weary” phrase in modern context? Tim Keller explained this doesn’t promise elimination of fatigue but rather spiritual endurance that outlasts physical limitations. The progression from soaring (highest) to running (medium) to walking (basic) actually moves toward more ordinary activities, suggesting God’s strength works most powerfully in mundane faithfulness. This counters charismatic interpretations that expect dramatic supernatural manifestations.

• How do we respond to claims that Isaiah 40:31 is only for Old Testament believers? Reformed scholars like Michael Horton and Kevin DeYoung argue the New Testament’s consistent quotation and application of Isaiah 40 (especially in Romans and 1 Peter) demonstrates clear continuity for Christian believers. Paul’s use of similar language in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 shows the same principle operating under the new covenant. The means may be clearer (through Christ), but the fundamental promise of strength through dependence remains unchanged.
• How do we explain why some faithful Christians still experience complete exhaustion? DA Carson and John Piper acknowledge that “renewed strength” doesn’t eliminate all human limitations but provides grace sufficient for God’s calling on our lives. The promise is functional, not absolute—God gives what we need for faithful obedience, not unlimited energy for our own agendas. Sometimes complete exhaustion itself becomes the means by which God teaches deeper dependence, as seen in Paul’s experience with his “thorn in the flesh.”

What do we say about using Isaiah 40:31 for physical healing claims? Contemporary Reformed theologians like Richard Gaffin Jr. and Vern Poythress distinguish carefully between spiritual promises and physical ones, noting that Scripture never clearly connects Isaiah 40:31 to bodily healing. While God certainly can and does heal physically, this verse promises spiritual strength for faithful living rather than physical restoration. Conflating the two categories leads to false expectations and pastoral problems when physical healing doesn’t occur despite genuine faith.

 

EAGLES WINGS: ISAIAH 40—OUR RELATED POSTS

• Samson’s Secret for His Strength: Was It Really His Hair?
• The Mystery Duel at Peniel: Why Would God Wrestle with Jacob?