Today is my sister Jamie’s 60th birthday! Sixty is a milestone for all of us, but it is even more so for her. Jamie was born with Down Syndrome, and at the time, doctors projected a life expectancy in the thirties. Well, she showed them! And she has been showing us ever since.

Jamie has shown us…

…what it means to interact with others. Though her communication skills are limited, she never fails to introduce herself to people. “Hi. My name is Jamie Peterson. What’s yours?” is the first thing out of her mouth. In a store, if she sees another child with Downs, she immediately goes up and talks and often hugs. She does not discriminate.

…what it means to live. Her desires and needs are simple: People. Interaction. Love. Popcorn. Maybe popcorn needs to go first. Growing up, she was content with whatever was near: a catalog to thumb through, a cat to pet. Dogs…hmm…maybe not so much. TV commercials enticing kids with new toys was wasted on Jamie. She loved swinging, swimming, and swaying with the music.

…what it means to be happy. Like all Downs kids, Jamie is 98% happy. (She has some Irish in her––and some Peterson, so no perfect 100 for her!) She loves music, and loves to sing and dance, but I have to admit, she dances a whole lot better than she sings.

…what it means to retain that childlike innocence––and deviousness: There will always be a Santa Claus. Christmas tree lights and decorations will always fascinate. The whipped cream in the refrigerator will always be subject to a sneaky hand.

To her three siblings, she was our sister. Doug would tickle and tease her unmercifully, which would get her to giggle then object, until she would finally yell, “Dougie, stop!” Pam, the youngest, would try to move up the pecking order, thinking Jamie wouldn’t notice, but she did. “Pam, you behave!” I guess I was the only “kind” sibling. Hmmmm.

But I still have a question. I know the Bible states that God has created each of us wonderfully and uniquely (Psalm 139:13-14; Jeremiah 1:4). I know he cares about each one of us intimately down to every hair on our head (Matthew 10:29-31). But why, for some people, does some of that uniqueness have to include a disability? I sometimes think about what Jamie has missed because of her disability, but the more I think, the less I can come up with. She went to Hawaii (without us), went to camp, worked, learned, won a gold medal in gymnastics at the Special Olympics at UCLA (being double jointed helped), and made lifelong friends.

What did she miss out on? Stress. Financial worries. The accumulation of stuff. The head games. But that is from my perspective. That is me trying to answer me.

I will have to wait to get my full answer until I get to heaven. But I don’t think it will be God answering my question. I think that when Jamie and I see each other in heaven, and she has that flawless body and healthy mind, and she can communicate perfectly, I bet my feeble attempt at an answer will pale in comparison to hers.

Recently, I had a taste of what many people experience on a regular basis. Because of unforeseen circumstances I found myself in a 24/7 care situation away from home. I wanted to be there. I wanted to help. I was ready, and I was good––for the first week. Lots of energy. Lots of advice. Lots of optimism.

Week two. My energy began to flag.



Week three. Body and soul were already bone weary. Though I wanted to be there, I missed home, and I had no idea what the future held. And it was only week three!

It was then that a verse I had heard multiple times came to mind––Isaiah 40:31.

But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
    They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don’t get tired,
    they walk and don’t lag behind. (The Message)

Before I was tired, this verse was encouraging. I liked the sound of it and the majestic imagery. But now that I was tired…well…I didn’t quite know what it meant. What exactly did that “wait upon God” mean, and how did that translate to “fresh strength”? I had to look it up.

Barnes’ Notes on the Bible said: “The phrase, 'to wait on Yahweh,' means to wait for his help; that is, to trust in him, to put our hope or confidence in him.…It does not imply inactivity, or want [lack] of personal exertion; it implies merely that our hope of aid…is in him.”

Matthew Poole’s Commentary said: It refers to those “that wait upon the Lord; that rely upon him for strength to bear their burdens, and for deliverance from them in due time.”

So I waited. And calm returned as did a respite. A chance to renew myself.

It was then I began to realize that I had been misinterpreting I Corinthians 10:13––you know the one that seems to imply that God won’t give us more than we can handle? I don’t think God promises that at all. I think we will always face more than we can handle––by design. Because if we can handle it, then we don’t need Him. The promise, I believe, is that we won’t  face anything we can’t handle in His strength, for doesn’t Jesus say to cast all our cares on him? Not just some (I Peter 5:7).

And that renewing? Some say the image is of an eagle whose old feathers molt away and the new ones provide renewed strength. The parallel then is as we exchange our self-reliance for God-reliance, we “shall grow stronger and stronger in faith, and patience, and fortitude, whereby [we] shall be more than conquerors over all [our] enemies and adversities.” (Poole)

Most of us face burnout at some point. That weariness that saps one to the bone. Some are caregivers, others pastors, teachers, single parents, overworked employees, or overburdened employers. The list is interminable and individual. But I did learn something. Don’t look ahead. Don’t worry. Rest and wait in Him while you continue to do what you are called to do and He will give you strength. He will lift you up.

One final note. Frank Gaebelein makes this comment about verse 31: “The verb used in 31 suggests an exchange of strength. The three-fold description [eagle/runner/walker] forms a climax, not its opposite; for the exceptional flying and the occasional running do not require, as does the constant walking, an ever-flowing stream of grace.”

Let us take heart and hope in that “ever-flowing stream of grace.”

* * * *

Gaebelein, Frank E. The Expositor’s Bible Commentary:Volume 6. “Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel.” Zondervan:1986.246.

 Most of us learn about God in one (or more) of the following four ways. Not necessarily in this order.

First, through others. We either see his love embodied in and demonstrated through someone else, or we hear what he has done in other's lives.

Second, we read the Bible ourselves. This is an important way we should encounter God. Not to read the Bible is parallel to a member on a football team never reading the playbook but relying solely on others telling him what it says and what he should do.

Third, we listen to sermons. Sermons expound on the God’s word. Knowledgeable pastors will provide historical context and understanding of the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek words, and they can also reveal modern day parallels and applications. Having access to strong biblical teaching is one reason we should all attend church.

Fourth, we participate in Bible studies. Being a part of a small group which is using a strong biblical study guide gives us the opportunity to focus on a certain section of the Bible, ask questions, and further develop our faith and understanding.

But there is a fifth way that is also very powerful, and that is through song. Just like comic strip writers and political cartoonists are able to pack big meaning into a small space, so a song writer can convey deep spiritual truths in a short song.

Case in point. The Gospel message is not complicated, but I have never heard what Christ did for us put so simply yet so profoundly as the chorus of “Glorious Day” by Casting Crowns.

Here are those five points.

Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He’s coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day.

That’s really all we need to remember.

Now enjoy the entire song.

Now that doesn’t sound like something we would need help with, does it? Our lives are filled with wants: things, love, good health, purpose. The list could be infinite. But one of the most impactful songs I have ever heard is Natalie Grant’s “More Than Anything.” It reminds us of what is most important.

I hope you enjoy it.