Angie: Renewed by the Unchanging God

 “Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for 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 40:30-31 (ESV)

Life moves in seasons of change. Earlier this year, I finished graduate school, entered into my career, and began adjusting to a new pace of life. Friends have moved away, others have gotten married, and the rhythms of friendship shifted. These changes have been full of joy and celebration, but also loss, uncertainty, and the fatigue of adapting again. Change has touched my family too; watching my parents and grandparents grow older and weaker has stirred in me a longing for something unchanging. 

When transitions feel overwhelming, I’ve noticed how easily I try to cope on my own: hyperfixating on work, turning to sleep as an escape, keeping things surface-level with others, or overanalyzing my feelings instead of entrusting them to God. But these things only bring momentary relief, never the true renewal I need. In the end, they leave me disconnected from God, all the while forgetting the greater purpose of my life. What I really need is to be honest with Him and let Him meet me where I am. 

That’s why Isaiah 40:30-31 has been so meaningful and encouraging. The passage says that even the young and strong - those we expect to endure - grow weary, but God never does. Our self-reliance will always fall short, yet in Christ we have what our strength could never provide. He promises to renew the strength of those who wait on Him – not with temporary relief, but with an exchange of weakness for His strength. Waiting on Him isn’t passive; it’s trusting, relying, and drawing near to Him in the midst of change. 

I’ve experienced this renewal in small but steady ways: listening to worship during my work commutes to silence anxious thoughts, taking quiet walks to slow down in His presence, gathering with others to share and pray, and letting His Word anchor me in His truth within a world filled with noise. These practices aren’t perfect or constant; some days I forget or resist, but they remind me that renewal is a daily gift I need to return to again and again. 

Looking back also reminds me of His faithfulness. He has carried me these past twenty-six years, guiding me through seasons I could never have planned on my own. One of the clearest examples of His hand is in my family. We were not Christians, but God, in His mercy, drew us one by one: first my brother, then me, then my father years ago, and most recently my mother just months ago. Witnessing Him work across generations has shown me His faithfulness in every season and His perfect timing. 

Life will always bring change – sometimes joyful, sometimes painful, often a mix of emotions. Yet through it all, God has remained steadfast. As I watch my family grow older, I’m reminded how fleeting time is, but also how precious each season can be when entrusted to Him. In every change, my hope is found in the unchanging God who renews strength and restores my soul. And I pray that in whatever transitions you may be walking through, you would find the same rest and steadfast hope in Him ◡̈