Isaiah 40:25-31

I've heard parts of this verse a million times over the past 2 decades. It's always been *good*, and I like the description of God giving us strenth and "wings like eagles", but it hit me different today. At church, Paul talked on Isaiah 40. As he was wrapping up with the last few verses, God's words to His people hit me differently this time. These are the translations I like the wording best in, though all are good.

(New Living Translation)
25 "To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?" asks the Holy One.
26 Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out one after another, calling each by its name. And he counts them to see that none are lost or have strayed away.
27 O Israel, how can you say the LORD does not see your troubles? How can you say God refuses to hear your case?
28 Have you never heard or understood? Don't you know that the LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth? He never grows faint or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
29 He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak.
30 Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up.
31 But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint

(New International Version)
27 "Why do you say, O Jacob,
and speak, O Israel,
‘My way is hidden from the Lord,
and my right is disregarded by my God’?
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint,
and strengthens the powerless.
30 Even youths will faint and be weary,
and the young will fall exhausted;
31 but those who wait for 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."

First of all, why do I question that God will fulfill His promises in my life?? Why do I think my "way is hidden from the Lord" or He doesn't "see my troubles"?? Of course He is aware of my heartaches. He knows everything about me. In a snap of a finger he can do whatever He wants in my life, but He chooses to grow me up and mold my character into who I am meant to be by allowing me to walk through storms. I don't want to be a bottle-fed brat. I want to be a woman of godly character that acknowledges and testifies of God's faithfulness throughout the course of my life. Through the ups and the downs.

His faithfulness does not rest on my being happy, or sad, or disillusioned.
It does rest on the fact that HE IS FAITHFUL.
It's His character.
It's who He is.
It is not dependent on me.

Why do I limit God...when it clearly says that He is the everlasting God, Creator of all the earth, renews strength, etc., etc.?? Just because things don't happen when/how I think they should, I often find myself doubting His goodness, awesomeness, and justice. If I hadn't gone through storms in my past, I wouldn't be who I am today. If what I'm going through right now wasn't to the benefit of molding my character, God wouldn't allow me to walk through it. Praise God for His molding...even when it hurts. For it shows us strength we never knew we had. God, help me to grab a hold of your truth. Make this real in my heart and mind. Help me to live it out, and not just think that it's nice to hear once in a while.