A short devotional from Isaiah 40

You know, folks, the Lord has a way of showing us His heart in the most ordinary places. Just today I was having lunch with my son Roddy. Roddy is twenty-one. He’s nonverbal and autistic, and after the seizures these past three years he wants me to feed him. So there I was, spoon by spoon as he grips my wrist, giving him tomato soup. And as I did, I just loved looking at his face. The different flavours brought these little expressions of pure delight across his face. No words needed. The joy was right there, plain and simple.

In that moment the Lord painted a picture of His own heart for me.

Isaiah 40:11 says:

“He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young.” (NKJV)

The Shepherd doesn’t stand far off and shout orders. He feeds, He gathers. He carries. He leads gently. When I’m sitting there feeding Roddy, who can’t feed himself right now, he will if he must, but I find such joy in watching the expressions on his face; I’m living out something very close to the heart of God. Jesus said that when we do it to the least of these, we do it to Him. Looking into Roddy’s face in those moments is looking at love that reflects the Shepherd’s love.

But the chapter doesn’t stop with the picture of the Shepherd feeding the flock. Later, in the same chapter, God speaks to those who are weary:

“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, NKJV)

My favourite verse: The same God who feeds like a shepherd is the God who renews strength. Not by us striving harder, but by waiting on Him. And waiting doesn’t always look like sitting still in a quiet room, passively. It means a strong expectation and a positive hope in the Lord. Sometimes, that hope looks like sitting at the table with Roddy day after day, spoon in hand, choosing to care for him and sharing in the quiet joy on his face as he enjoys the tomato soup.

In that ordinary faithfulness, the Lord renews strength. He doesn’t only give wings for soaring high above the hard places; He gives strength to walk the path of daily love without growing faint.

If you find yourself in a season of caring for someone who depends on you, take heart. The Shepherd who gathers the lambs also renews the one doing the gathering. He sees the expressions of simple joy. He is present in the feeding. And as you wait on Him, even in the middle of the ordinary, He will renew your strength.

The Lord bless you as you walk with Him today. He is the Shepherd who feeds, and He is the God who gives strength.