Strength for Today
As we move well into our Lenten journey, it is natural to look back and measure how far we have come, or to glance ahead at the distance still to travel. Yet in doing so, we can easily overlook the gift that God places before us each day: today. Lent is not only about endurance over time, but about receiving grace for the present moment.
In Isaiah 40:29–31 we hear this promise:
The Lord gives strength to the weary.
Though even the young grow tired and fall,
those who trust in the Lord will be renewed.
They will rise like eagles,
and walk and run without growing weary.
These words speak honestly about human frailty. Even the young, the strong, and the energetic reach their limits. Weariness is not a failure of faith; it is part of being human. But Isaiah reminds us that God meets us precisely there. Strength is not something we manufacture—it is something we receive. Renewal comes not from striving harder, but from trusting deeper.
The image of the eagle is especially striking. Eagles do not soar by frantic flapping alone; they rise by catching the unseen currents of the wind. So too, God’s strength often lifts us not by removing the journey, but by carrying us through it—step by step, breath by breath.
Illustration
A long-distance walker once said that the hardest part of a journey is not the steep hills or the long miles, but the temptation to keep thinking about how far there is still to go. When they learned to focus only on the next few steps, the journey became bearable—even joyful. Strength came not for the whole distance at once, but for each moment.
God works in much the same way. He does not always give strength for tomorrow today, but he promises strength for today.
It is no surprise that this echoes the well-loved words of the hymn Great Is Thy Faithfulness:
“Strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside.”
Lent teaches us to live in that promise—to trust that today’s strength is enough, and tomorrow’s will come in God’s time.
Where do I need God’s strength today? What would it look like to trust him with just this step, this task, this moment?
Prayer
Faithful God,
You see our tiredness and know our limits.
When we feel weak, remind us that your strength is made perfect in our need.
Help us not to rush ahead or dwell on what lies behind,
but to trust you for the grace of this day.
Lift us on wings of faith, steady our steps,
and give us strength for today and hope for tomorrow. Amen
