Breaking Dawn | Part 14 - I'm Just Tired | Dr. Stephen G. Tan

Jul 12, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: When Exile Feels Like a Permanent Address

The crushing weight of prolonged hardship makes hope feel foreign. Isaiah’s listeners knew this bone-deep weariness, their lives suspended in Babylonian captivity. Yet God interrupts despair with a shocking promise: their season of punishment will end, not with bare survival but double blessings. His comfort isn’t hollow optimism—it’s rooted in finished warfare and pardoned sin. Even when consequences linger, His mercy outmeasures judgment. [05:01]

“Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” says your God. “Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.” (Isaiah 40:1-2, NKJV)

Reflection: Where have you resigned yourself to “this is just how life is” instead of holding space for God’s surprise restoration? How might His promise of “double blessings” reshape your view of current struggles?

Day 2: Mountains Flattened for a Single Thread of Hope

Help often arrives in ways we don’t expect—a voice in the wilderness, a fraying thread holding pants together. Isaiah describes God bulldozing mountains to reach His people, yet sometimes His deliverance whispers more than roars. Our fatigue screams for dramatic rescues, but His faithfulness thrives in quiet miracles: strength for one more conversation, patience to endure a petty conflict, a single stitch holding chaos at bay. [06:49]

The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth.” (Isaiah 40:3-4, NKJV)

Reflection: What “mountain” have you been begging God to move that He might instead ask you to walk through? Where did you recently overlook His subtle provision in favor of demanding a spectacle?

Day 3: Midnight Snacks and Eternal Appetites

Temporary comforts—like late-night fries—numb pain but can’t nourish souls. Israel’s exile left them craving quick fixes: political saviors, compromised alliances. God redirects their hunger to something lasting—His eternal word. Our weariness tempts us to settle for distractions, but soul-rest comes only when we fix our eyes on the One who outlives empires and energizes galaxies. [13:42]

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. (Isaiah 40:8, NKJV)

Reflection: What “snack” have you been bingeing to avoid the harder work of soul-feeding? How would your week change if you craved God’s promises as urgently as that next dopamine hit?

Day 4: The God Who Carries Lambs and Crushes Kings

Shepherds don’t intimidate armies—until the Shepherd is also the King. Isaiah’s God cradles the fragile while toppling tyrants. His gentleness isn’t weakness; His power isn’t brutality. Our exhaustion often comes from trying to be both lamb and lion—vulnerable yet invincible. But the One who holds galaxies in His palm also carries us in the bend of His arm. [22:39]

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. (Isaiah 40:11, NKJV)

Reflection: Where are you straining to “be strong” when God invites you to collapse into His care? What tyrant (external or internal) do you need to trust Him to confront?

Day 5: Strength That Outlasts the Crash

Youthful energy fails. Coffee runs out. Isaiah’s remedy isn’t gritting teeth but opening hands—waiting, not hustling. Renewal comes not from sleeping more but leaning harder. Like a parent steadying a child’s wobbling bike, God’s strength activates in motion. We don’t find power to avoid the race; we receive it mile by surrendered mile. [35:55]

He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. (Isaiah 40:29-31, NKJV)

Reflection: What responsibility feels like a “sprint” you’re running alone? How might “waiting on the Lord” look less like passivity and more like plugging into a divine power grid?

Sermon Summary

Isaiah 40 turns toward a future generation sitting in Babylonian captivity, tired, discouraged, and wondering whether God still remembers his promises. The prophet writes to people who feel like getting out of bed is already too much, and God opens with, “Comfort, yes, comfort my people.” God’s heart is not to crush his disciplined people beyond repair, but to let them see light at the end of the exilic tunnel.

The voice in the wilderness announces that the Lord is coming, and every valley, mountain, crooked place, and rough place must get out of the way. God’s help is not stuck somewhere in traffic, and nothing natural or man made can stop him from getting to his people. The chapter calls discouraged hearts to look up and hear the good news: “Behold your God.” Temporary fixes may cheer a person up for a moment, like food at midnight after a hard week, but they cannot fix the deeper ache. Lasting comfort comes because the almighty God is on the way.

Isaiah then says all flesh is grass, and all human strength withers like a flower in the field. Babylon, rulers, problems, and pressure do not last forever, but the word of God stands forever. God’s promises are not bound by time, circumstances, or human opposition. His words and works are still in effect.

The Lord also comes with reward in his hand. Faithfulness in hard times is not wasted. The Lord sees when a person drags himself out of bed to live for Christ, when a person is misunderstood for the gospel, and when a person refuses to defend himself in order to keep the peace. The opportunity to gain eternal reward happens here on earth, and the God who made the universe has prepared what the mind cannot fully imagine.

Isaiah also shows the Lord as both shepherd and sovereign. God gathers lambs in his arms, carries them close, and gently leads the weak, but the same God measures waters in his hand, stretches out the heavens, and treats the nations like a drop in a bucket. A caring god without power could only offer nice words, but the living God is caring and all powerful. The incarnation itself shows this care and power, because God solved mankind’s deepest sin problem through Christ.

The chapter ends by correcting Israel’s fear that her way is hidden from the Lord. The everlasting God does not faint or grow weary, and he gives power to the weak. Even young men run out of strength, but those who wait on the Lord renew their strength, mount up with wings like eagles, run without weariness, and walk without fainting.

Key Takeaways

1. Help is truly on the way God’s coming is the comfort Isaiah places before exhausted people, not because circumstances look promising, but because the Lord himself is moving toward his people. The valleys, mountains, crooked places, and rough roads do not negotiate with him. The weary heart is called to look up from its downward gaze and hear, “Behold your God.” [14:02]
2. God’s word outlives every pressure Human power looks permanent when it is pressing hard, but Isaiah calls all flesh grass. Babylon withers, rulers fade, and even the strongest opposition has an expiration date. God’s promises stand outside that decay, which means a believer’s hope rests on what cannot be blown away. [08:51]
3. Faithfulness is never wasted The Lord comes with reward, and that means hidden obedience is not hidden from him. Misunderstanding, restraint, costly peacemaking, and tired perseverance are all seen by the one who judges fairly. Earthly life becomes the place where eternal opportunities are either squandered or utilized. [19:57]
4. God is gentle and almighty Isaiah holds together the shepherd who carries lambs and the Creator who weighs mountains. A God who only cares but cannot act would leave the deepest problems untouched, but the Lord is not all talk. His care moves with omnipotent power, most clearly seen when Christ came to solve mankind’s sin problem. [30:30]
5. Weakness can become God’s platform Isaiah does not tell the tired to flex harder, because even young men faint and fall. The promise belongs to those who wait on the Lord, meaning those who depend on him and let him rule. God’s limitless strength becomes most evident when human strength has honestly run out. [35:38]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:46] - Isaiah 40 Turns Toward Exile
[05:01] - Comfort for God’s People
[06:16] - The Lord Is Coming to Help
[08:33] - Grass Withers, God’s Word Stands
[10:58] - Behold Your God
[15:42] - The Lord Brings Rewards
[22:13] - The Shepherd’s Gentle Care
[23:35] - The Incomparable Creator
[30:30] - Caring and All Powerful
[33:03] - Strength for the Weak
[39:37] - Comfort, Hope, and Perseverance

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Isaiah 40:1-31 (NKJV)
Revelation 22:12 (NKJV) – “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.”
1 Corinthians 2:9 (NKJV) – “But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’”

Observation Questions

In Isaiah 40:3-5, what imagery does the prophet use to describe how God’s coming will transform obstacles? How does this relate to the idea of “help being on the way”?
Isaiah 40:6-8 compares human life to grass and flowers. What contrast does this create with God’s Word, and why is this significant for discouraged people?
The sermon mentions midnight snacks as a temporary comfort. What examples of “temporary fixes” does Isaiah 40 warn against, and what lasting solution does it offer instead? [13:21]
How does Isaiah 40:27-31 redefine strength and weakness? What role does “waiting on the Lord” play in this?

Interpretation Questions

Why does Isaiah emphasize both God’s gentleness (as a shepherd) and His power (as Creator) in the same chapter? How do these attributes work together to provide comfort?
The sermon states, “Faithfulness is never wasted” because God sees hidden obedience. How does Revelation 22:12 reinforce this idea, and what does it reveal about God’s character?
Isaiah 40:30 says even young people grow weary. How does this truth challenge cultural assumptions about self-reliance or “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps”?
The pastor shared a story about his pants splitting and relying on God’s strength. How does this humorous example illustrate the principle of God’s power in human weakness? [38:37]

Application Questions

What “valleys” or “mountains” (obstacles) are you currently facing that feel impossible to overcome? How might Isaiah 40:3-5 change your perspective on these challenges?
The sermon mentions rewards for faithfulness, like enduring misunderstandings or costly peacemaking. What is one area of your life where obedience feels unrewarded or unseen? How can God’s promise in Revelation 22:12 encourage you?
Isaiah 40:11 describes God as a shepherd who carries His lambs. When have you experienced God’s gentleness in a season of exhaustion? How can you actively “look up” (Isaiah 40:9) this week instead of fixating on your struggles?
The pastor joked about relying on a thread to hold his pants together. What “thread” (a small act of faith or dependence) is God asking you to trust Him with right now? [38:37]
How does the truth that “God’s word outlives every pressure” (Isaiah 40:8) challenge your current worries about problems that feel permanent? What practical step can you take to anchor your hope in His promises?
Isaiah 40:31 promises renewed strength for those who wait on the Lord. What does “waiting” look like in your life? Is there a situation where you need to stop striving and instead rely on His strength?

Sermon Clips

61s

#SoarLikeEagles

“``God's word is very clear. Apart from me, you can do nothing. Verse 30 says that even young people who are in the prime of their life will get tired. And even if they won't admit it in their pride, they won't be able to do everything that they want. And in those times when they realize that they are limited in what they can do, if they wait on the Lord, meaning they depend on God and allow him to rule in their lives, then their strength will be renewed. Meaning, they will have the enablement to do what God allows. In fact, more than just renewal. They will soar like eagles. They will be able to press on with life, never overwhelmed with what the world throws at them because the source of their strength, our strength is in the God who is all powerful and never tires.”

44s

#GodCaresAndActs

“That's why knowing that our lord is both caring and all powerful can truly bring comfort to our souls because not only will he care for you, he will actively work to solve your deepest needs and most challenging problems. So in all of those frustrations and hardships, in all those times of uncertainties and disappointments, when you're crying because there doesn't seem to be a solution to your problems, remember that our caring God is all powerful. He isn't just all talk. He's actively at work to bring about comfort and solution in his time and in his way.”

57s

#GodProvidedSalvation

“You know when mankind was facing the sin problem, meaning our sin prevented us from going to heaven and having eternal fellowship with him. Our caring God desired that no one perish. So in his omnipotence, the second person of the triune godhead took on human form in the incarnation. He took on bodily form, and so Jesus could die for the sins of the world to provide salvation and hope. God himself, because he is caring and all powerful, provided the solution, the only solution to mankind's most pressing problem. That my friends is his care.”

63s

#BeholdYourGod

“There's now a summons for the people of Israel collectively in view of the coming of God to go and proclaim this truth from the highest of mountains in the loudest of voices, behold your God. The proclamation was to comfort the people by telling them to look up from the downward gaze of their discouraged hearts. Look up and see that God is coming to help you. My friends, when people are discouraged by the happenings of this world with all of its challenges, griefs, sadness, and disappointments. We are to look up and see the one enthroned on high. See, looking to God is really our only lasting comfort. Anything else we look to in order to find comfort in is only temporary at best.”

77s

#PowerfulCare

“This truth encourages us to get out of bed and face our trials head on because he watches over us and he even fights on our behalf. Now putting it all together, we have our third biblical principle for how we can be comforted in times of discouragement. We are to remember that number three, our God is caring and all powerful. Our God is caring and all powerful. Why are these two attributes important? You see, what's the use of a caring God that can't do anything? If a God is caring but can't do anything, he's not all powerful outside of saying nice things to us and giving us hugs and pats on the back, our problems and issues are still left unresolved. But to have a caring god that is all powerful, now that is a game changer. Because as he shows forth care, he is actively working to ensure that our needs and the root causes of our problems can be dealt with as a sign of his genuine care for us.”

75s

#GodsWordEndures

“Isaiah was instructed to cry out to proclaim that human life is temporary and mortal. Just like when grass withers and flower fades, human life does not last forever. Forever. The implication of this reality is that the power of mankind is limited. And a person's hold over someone and something will eventually come to an end. So my friends don't lose hope because that which currently is will not always be because man and mankind is mortal. And the one that controls all of this is the Lord God who the bible tells us in verse seven whose breath brings life but also brings death. There is only one thing that will stand the test of time and does not wither and die and that is the word of God. That which God says and promises is not bound by time nor circumstances. Human opposition or will cannot change God's sovereign word.”

58s

#StrengthInWeakness

“In these verses, we see that the all powerful God shares his strength with those who are weak. To people who've all but given up and are simply tired to move on, he gives them the strength to press on. The focus of these verses is on God's strength, not ours. Because his strength is limitless. It never runs out. That's why the bible tells us in our weakness, God's strength is perfected. It is made more evident. You see it's not a competition to see who is stronger, God or you. God isn't gonna play that game. If you wanna flex, then God says you go flex away and see how inadequate you are. But if you wanna rely on my strength, there you will find true power and enablement.”

62s

#HeartOfMercy

“The heart of God is clearly evident in these verses. It is a heart that truly cares for his people. Even if these people deserved their harsh discipline in exile, God's heart is to make sure that while broken in spirit, they are not so utterly shattered that they can't see that hope and redemption is soon in sight. There is light at the end of the exilic tunnel. In fact, with the nation's sin forgiven because of the messiah's sacrifice, which we'll talk about more in detail in subsequent chapters. God's promise is that the nation would receive twice as many blessings as she had seen judgment. And we know God didn't have to do this. But more than getting what they deserve, they would get what they didn't deserve in blessings. My friends, this is the heart of a loving God.”

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