by Michael E. Brooks

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. (2 Corinthians 4:16)

Earlier this year I spent a few days in one of the tea growing areas of northeastern India. As we traveled through the tea gardens I noticed many barren fields, and dead tea shrubs. The local people told me that this portion of India is losing many tea estates and the once huge export business is decreasing. It seems that the industry was begun by the British during the colonial period and the tea plants are now more than 100 years old. Production has fallen off, some plants are dying, and the industry is failing. Why not replant? Some are doing so, but most cannot. They lack the financial resources for such an investment.

Does that not remind you of life? We begin with great energy and enthusiasm, full of innocence and abounding with resources. But life’s experience soon begins to age us, sin corrupts us, and we find ourselves aging, less productive, and dying. Can’t we just start over? Change bad habits, make new relationships, gain skills and attitudes that will revitalize us? Some do, at least partially, through job changes, education, and other self-help measures. But ultimately we all fail, because we simply lack the resources. We need help, an "investor," to give us the necessary ingredients to make the changes that are essential to profitable lives.

Enter the Good News of God’s intervention through Jesus. Renewal is His gift to us. What we cannot do for ourselves, what we cannot earn or pay for, He does by grace.

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:5) .

Forgiveness from sin, freedom from guilt, new purpose and worth -– all these are Christ’s gifts to us, available through simple obedient faith. He constantly renews us, equipping us for productivity and eternal joy. If we will "wait upon the Lord," He will give us strength.

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