Soaring Misunderstandings: Unpacking the True Meaning of Isaiah 40:31

“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)

This verse adorns coffee mugs, wall art, and social media posts. It’s quoted in sermons, used in motivational speeches, and plastered across gym walls. To many, it’s a promise that when life wears you down, all you need is a powerful spiritual “recharge” – some deep prayer, maybe a fast – and God will lift you back up so you can “soar like an eagle.”

Sounds inspiring. But is that really what Isaiah 40:31 means?

Sadly, this beloved verse has been co-opted by modern-day performance-based Christianity and stripped of its rich biblical context. The result is a distorted interpretation that burdens weary believers even further, rather than comforting them.

In this article, we’ll peel back the layers of misunderstanding and rediscover the stunning depth and beauty of Isaiah 40:31, both for its original audience and for us today.

The Popular but Problematic Interpretation

In the modern church, Isaiah 40:31 is often preached like a spiritual quick-fix:

“Are you tired? Burned out? Spiritually weak? Then wait on the Lord! Go into a deep time of prayer and fasting, and you’ll be filled with fresh power from God to soar like an eagle.”

This approach tends to define “waiting on the Lord” as extended, intense spiritual effort – deep intercession, emotional breakthrough, spiritual “warfare.” When you finally reach that point of spiritual desperation, the teaching goes, God will swoop in and empower you.

It sounds biblical. It feels intense. But there’s a problem…

This interpretation subtly turns God’s promise of strength into a formula for earning it – a performance treadmill dressed in spiritual language. Instead of leading people to hope, it usually leaves them more exhausted than before.

The Consequences of Misusing This Verse

When Isaiah 40:31 is misrepresented, it doesn’t just water down the gospel – it wounds the weary…! Here’s how:

1. It Reinforces Performance-Based Faith

People begin to believe that they must do more spiritually to earn God’s help. Prayer becomes a burden. Fasting becomes a guilt-driven obligation. If you’re still tired or discouraged afterward, you assume it’s because you didn’t “wait” correctly.

2. It Creates Disillusionment

When someone prays fervently, fasts sincerely, and still doesn’t feel strong or “lifted up,” they’re left wondering:

“What’s wrong with me? Why didn’t God show up?”

This leads to spiritual confusion, feelings of inadequacy, and, in many cases, eventual burnout.

3. It Can Enable Spiritual Abuse

In some church environments – especially performance-driven or hyper-charismatic ones – this verse is used to keep people running at full speed “for the Lord” without rest or boundaries. If you’re weary, it’s insinuated that it’s because you’re not “pressing in” enough. This weaponizes Scripture against the very people it’s meant to heal…

What Isaiah 40:31 Meant to the Original Audience

To grasp the true meaning of this verse, we must step into the sandals of its first hearers.

The Context: Exile and Despair

Isaiah 40 begins a new section of the book – a prophetic message addressed to future Israelites in Babylonian exile. Isaiah 39 had just ended with a devastating prophecy:

“Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house… shall be carried to Babylon…” (Isaiah 39:6)

God’s people would be stripped from their homeland, their temple destroyed, and their identity as a nation seemingly dissolved.

Chapter 40 opens with words of unimaginable comfort:

“Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” says your God. (Isaiah 40:1)

So, Isaiah 40:31 is not a motivational slogan – it is a promise of hope spoken into despair. It is not calling people to strive harder, but to trust deeper.

What the Key Phrases Really Mean

“Those who wait on the LORD”

The Hebrew word translated “wait” is קָוָה (qavah). It means:

• To hope in
• To expect
• To trust in patiently

This is not about intense spiritual activity or long hours in prayer – it’s about a settled, enduring posture of trust in God’s character, even when deliverance seems delayed. It’s choosing to lean on God, not our own effort.

“They shall mount up with wings like eagles”

Eagles soar high above the earth, catching wind currents with minimal effort. In ancient times, the eagle symbolized:

• Strength that is not self-generated
• Elevation above hardship
• Freedom from the weight of the world

This image is not about personal triumph or emotional hype. It is a picture of God lifting the weary above their circumstances, not by their flapping, but by His faithfulness.

“They shall run and not be weary”

Running implies seasons of intense demand – moments when you’re stretched thin or called to press forward quickly.

To “run and not be weary” is not natural – it’s supernatural. God sustains His people even in the rush of life when they rely on Him rather than their own stamina.

“They shall walk and not faint”

Walking symbolizes the daily grind, the slow, ordinary obedience of life. It’s the hardest part of the journey – the step-by-step faithfulness when no one is watching…

And yet, here’s the miracle: even in the mundane, even in the plodding pace, God sustains His people so they don’t faint. He doesn’t just empower the runners – He holds up the walkers.

What It Means for Us Today – in Light of Christ

In Christ, this passage takes on its deepest fulfillment.

Jesus is the One who carried our sin-weariness to the cross. He is the fulfillment of all the promises Isaiah 40 points to:

• He is the Word of comfort spoken into our exile (John 1:14).
• He is the Savior who renews strength, not by demanding our performance, but by giving us His Spirit (Matthew 11:28–30).
• He is the One who walks with us, runs beside us, and even carries us when we can’t go on.

To “wait on the Lord” today means:

• Trusting in Christ’s finished work, not your spiritual effort
• Resting in the character of God when life is uncertain
• Believing that His empowering grace is sufficient, even when your strength isn’t

Final Thoughts

This verse (passage) is more about who GOD is than who WE are…!

Isaiah 40:31 is not a call to prove your spiritual worth through prayer marathons or fasting binges. It is a radical promise to the broken, the burned-out, and the barely-hanging-on:

God sees us.
He does not grow weary.
His eye doesn't turn away for even a split second.
And He gives power to those who are bankrupt in themselves.

You may not always soar. You may not always run. But if you keep trusting in Him, you will walk. And you will not faint. 🙏