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 NKJV
When I was a much younger man, I did quite a bit of running. However, I gradually changed to walking for exercise and have been a walker for years.
The Scripture often employs these two forms of mobility as metaphors for particular aspects of the Christian life. We frequently see “walk” and its cognates used as descriptions of a quality of conduct a Christian should be engaged in. By comparison, the metaphor “run” is used to depict perseverance and endurance.
The above text uses both terms. In giving comfort and encouragement to fainthearted and weary people, God reminds them their Creator-God never faints or grows weary, and that he gives power to the weak. When even the children and young men’s strength is spent, renewed strength is given to those who “wait on the LORD.” The fact is, such people will be so energized by the Spirit that they will run without becoming tired; they will walk without growing unsteady.
Note some additional texts on these two spiritual metaphors.
“Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16).
“And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Eph. 5:2).
“Walk as children of light” (Eph. 5:8).
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it” (1 Cor. 9:24).
“And let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1).
God desires to make “walkers” and “runners” out of all of his people. Are you “running” and “walking” today?
Taken from . . .
Renewed by the Spirit: 365 Daily Meditations
by Ralph I. Tilley
copyright © 2016 Ralph I. Tilley
(May be copied for noncommercial purposes,
not to exceed 500 copies.)
