The Moment God’s Promise Became My Lifeline
“But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] Will gain new strength and renew their power; They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun]; They will run and not become weary, They will walk and not grow tired.”
Isaiah 40:31 (AMP)
This was the verse of the day a few weeks ago, and it stopped me in my tracks. I’ve been spending considerable time dwelling on this verse. As someone building Zanele’s Faith Journeys (ZFJ) and navigating this season of trusting God for provision, these words feel like they were written directly for my heart – and maybe yours too.
The Human Tendency: Hoping in Temporary Solutions
If I’m being honest (and I always want to), my Type A personality wants to control everything. As I examine my current situation, I am searching for the right job for me (not just any job) while building ZFJ full-time, needing financial provision, and wanting time to focus on my healing. My natural instinct is to hope in what I can see and control.
We all do this, don’t we? We place our hope in our job security, our relationships, our bank accounts, and our own abilities to make things happen. These aren’t necessarily bad things, but that’s a problem when we forget about the Lord. God provides all of these things-He is the source, not us. The challenge for those of us with take-charge personalities is learning that true strength doesn’t come from frantically flapping our wings, trying to manufacture outcomes through sheer willpower. Real strength comes from learning to soar on the wind currents that God provides (just like the eagles do).
The Promise: Renewed Strength Through Hope in Him
Isaiah 40:31 offers a spectacular promise: when we place our hope in the Lord, when we expect, look for, and trust in Him completely, we will gain new strength and renew our power. This isn’t just feel-good motivation; this is a guarantee from our loving Father.
Right now, I’m living this verse in real time. I’m hoping in God for either a fabulous job with a great company or a financial windfall (or something else) that would allow me to build ZFJ full-time and focus on my healing. To some, this might sound unrealistic and highly unlikely. But faith is knowing for sure that when I put my trust in God, He promises I will find renewed strength to endure life’s challenges.
When Life Doesn’t Fit Neat Categories
After almost two full years out of traditional employment, I get interesting questions from people: “So, what do you want to do now?” or “What are you doing with your time?” A good friend even told her mother that I’m retired.
Am I retired? It’s complicated. I worked at my last job for almost 28 years before resigning in March 2024. Technically, that could be a form of retirement. In 2022, I often wished I were more financially literate to have taken the necessary steps when I was younger to retire at 55. It occurred to me then that 55 was the perfect time to retire, as I would still be young enough to explore the world and discover new possibilities. But at the same time, I also reminded myself that there’s nothing God can’t do; so as far as I was concerned, I knew that it could still happen.
Now that I am 55, the truth is, I don’t fit into society’s so-called neat little boxes at the moment. I don’t have enough money for traditional retirement, so I wasn’t thinking of this season that way. Is this a sabbatical? A career transition? A divine pause? Sometimes I feel so “all over the place” and wonder if that displeases God.
But here’s what I’m figuring out: God isn’t bothered by my inability to categorize this season. I’m building ZFJ with the vision that it could provide everything my family will ever need for the rest of our lives. I’m also looking for a job because we need additional income now. I’m living in the tension of both/and rather than either/or, and that’s perfectly okay.
This messy, in-between space? This is exactly where Isaiah 40:31 meets me. I struggle to describe my circumstances in a way that makes sense to others. I’m trusting God for provision that looks different from conventional wisdom, and I’m hoping in Him while also taking practical steps. That’s not confusion. That’s faith in action.
But I must say this: although I feel “all over the place” sometimes, I am so incredibly grateful to God for this time. I get to wake up in the mornings without an alarm. Four days a week, I walk the trail—this week for an hour and ten minutes, spending quality time with Jesus and taking in the beauty of His creation. I get to listen to the wind rustling through the tall trees, look at the green leaves, and the canopy filtering the sun. The only deadlines I have to meet are the ones I impose on myself—and that’s exactly the way I like it. What an incredible blessing!
I don’t know how long this season will last, nor do I know what the Lord has planned for my future. But right now? I’m praising God for this gift of time, for this space to heal, to build, to walk with Him in ways I never could during those 28 years of employment.
And you know what? I’m experiencing that renewed strength every day. Instead of being consumed by anxiety about bills or the future, I’m finding supernatural endurance to keep building, keep writing, keep trusting. That’s not my strength – that’s God lifting me up like an eagle, rising toward the Son. Hallelujah!
Real-World Examples: When God Rewards Obedience
I’ve been so encouraged lately by stories of women who exemplify this principle. Take Melanie Sanders from “Just being Melanie” on social media. She started the WDNC (We Don’t Care) movement not through strategic planning, but through authentic vulnerability. She was overwhelmed by perimenopause and life, and she simply recorded a video to vent about the things she no longer cares about. I don’t think she was looking to go viral – she was just being real.
That authentic moment resonated with millions of women worldwide, and now she’s sorting through brand deals and is about to launch a brand-new book, “The Official We Do Not Care Handbook”. As far as I know, she wasn’t frantically trying to build a platform; she was just honest about her experience, and God lifted her up beyond anything she could have orchestrated.
Then there’s Tabitha Brown, whose story perfectly illustrates obedience to God’s voice. God told her to make that video years ago about the vegan sandwich from Whole Foods, and she obeyed. He also prompted her to host live cooking streams from her kitchen, where she would chat with people while cooking vegan dishes, and she obeyed. Her consistent obedience to God’s direction, no matter how simple or seemingly random, led to incredible provision, several books, and a platform that reaches millions.
Both women show us what it looks like to hope in God rather than in our own strategies. They were obedient to His voice and authentic in their sharing, and He did the rest.
The Promise of Completion
“I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return].” Philippians 1:6 (AMP)
God doesn’t start things He won’t finish. If He has called you to something, whether it’s building a ministry, pursuing healing, changing careers, or simply learning to trust Him in a new way, He will complete what He has begun. Nothing in our lives is wasted. God has, is, and will use it all for His glory and our good.
Every struggle, every season of waiting, every moment of learning to hope in Him rather than in temporary solutions is all part of the good work God’s completing in us. Always remember, your current challenges aren’t setbacks; they’re setups for God’s glory and your good.
Soaring Instead of Striving
Eagles don’t exhaust themselves flying. They find the thermal currents and soar effortlessly, rising to incredible heights without exhausting themselves. When we learn to hope in the Lord instead of relying on our own strength, we experience this same supernatural lift.
We will run and don’t become weary. We will walk and not grow tired. Not because life becomes easy, but because we’re operating in God’s strength rather than our own very limited power.
This is what I’m learning in this season: to stop frantically flapping and effortlessly start trusting the wind currents of God’s provision. I hope in His ability to change my circumstances rather than exhausting myself trying to force outcomes. Now, that’s growth. Praise God!
A Prayer of Surrender and Hope
Your Turn to Soar
Whatever season you’re in right now, whatever you’re hoping for or worried about, I encourage you to place your hope in the Lord—not in your job, your relationships, your bank account, or your own abilities—but in the God who has the power to change any circumstance at any time.
Remember, He who began a good work in you will complete it. Nothing in your life is ever wasted. Every struggle is being woven into something beautiful for His glory and your good.
Stop frantically flapping and learn to soar on His strength. You were made to rise up close to God like eagles rising toward the sun.
God’s Word brings life and hope. His promises are sure. And when we anchor our hope in Him, we discover a strength and endurance that the world simply cannot understand.
Trust Him. Hope in Him. Watch Him lift you higher than you ever thought possible.
Whatever season you’re in – whether it fits neat categories or feels “all over the place” – remember that life is a faith journey. Walk boldly in that journey.
Be brave enough to pursue your dreams. Be faithful enough to trust the process. Be kind enough to help another woman along the way.
Journal Prompt & Discussion: What area of your life do you need to transfer your hope from temporary solutions to trusting in God’s power? Take a moment to write about where you’ve been placing your hope lately and how you can redirect that hope to Him. Share your thoughts in the comments – I’d love to pray for you as we learn to soar together.
