Strength for the Season Ahead - Your Nightly Prayer - April 9th

Your Nightly Prayer

Audio By Carbonatix

By Amber Ginter, Crosswalk.com

Your Nightly Prayer

Strength for the Season Ahead
Your Nightly Prayer
Amber Ginter

TONIGHT'S SCRIPTURE

“Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.” - Isaiah 40:31

SOMETHING TO PONDER

It was almost the first day of spring, but I felt depleted. Despite the blooming flowers, gently rolling clouds, and growing sunshine, my spirit had grown weary. This winter had been rough. I felt like the piles of salt poured onto the roads during snowstorms and run over by passing traffic half a dozen times. And yet, something within told me to hold on, look for the light, and find new strength. When we grow weary and tired, it’s easy to fix our eyes on our circumstances. This is the human thing to do. When we’re in pain, we fixate on what hurts physically, mentally, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. But Isaiah 40:31 tells us another way:

“Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.” - Isaiah 40:31

What I love most about this verse is that it isn’t toxic positivity or blissful ignorance. No, God does care about our pain, tragedy, and circumstances. However, those things don’t change His character. Those things don’t change who He is. So, when we’re in times of distress, we’re given a choice:

We can put our hope in God, or
We can put our hope in ourselves.

Only one of these solutions leads to lasting peace as an eternal outcome. When we put our hope in Jesus, our strength is restored, not because our circumstances change, but because God is with us in those circumstances. He strengthens us along the way, providing everything we need.

Hoping in God is choosing to fix our eyes on Him, no matter what the world around us looks like. Again, this isn’t ignorance of our circumstances. It’s saying, “God, XYZ is happening, but help me look to you.” It’s recognizing that God is with us, even here, and that’s a blessing. For me, I try to stay in the moment by journaling how I’m feeling, then contrasting that with who God is amid those circumstances. Much like the Psalms, I’m able to say, “Lord, I’m heavy and worn because _____, but you are my strength. You are light, truth, and the source of nourishment I need.”

Whether we acknowledge it or not, we are all trusting something or someone. The question is, which will we choose to trust and put our hope in today? It’s never too late to put our hope in Him who will never fail us or let us down.

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER

Dear Jesus,
As the seasons shift, I’m exhausted. I know spring is upon us, but honestly, I don’t have the energy to go on. When I feel this way, please strengthen and renew my weary spirit. Remind me that even when my circumstances don’t change, you will strengthen me in those moments. You love me, see me, and care about what I’m experiencing. Thank you for your constant love, grace, and presence. I love you, Lord.
Amen.

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON

Memorize Isaiah 40:31. The next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, recite this verse as you take deep, slow breaths. Then, journal how God is our strength, even when our circumstances don’t change.
Think about the last time God brought you through something really hard. Journal about it and the key points of that moment. Choose to intentionally share this story with someone who needs encouragement this week.
Compare and contrast hoping in God versus hoping in ourselves. What do you notice about the list? Talk to God about your findings.

Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.

Amber Ginter is a teacher-turned-author who loves Jesus, her husband Ben, and granola. Growing up Amber looked for faith and mental health resources and found none. Today, she offers hope for young Christians struggling with mental illness that goes beyond simply reading your Bible and praying more. Because you can love Jesus and still suffer from anxiety. You can download her top faith and mental health resources for free to help navigate books, podcasts, videos, and influencers from a faith lens perspective. Visit her website at amberginter.com.