Mid-Week Message - Eagle Lesson

 "..but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."  Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

What a wonderful verse!  So much hope!  Often quoted, it is clung to in times of difficulty.  And well it should be.  It turns our thoughts upward and reminds us that it is the Lord that will renew our strength.  We get so tired here.  Life is hard.  Some days it seems that around every corner is another hurtle that must be conquered and we wonder each time how we are going to make our way over it.  

I love that we are given the example of an eagle.  Majestic in appearance, eagles are admired for their beauty, grace and strength.  But did you ever wonder how the eagle would describe life?  As wild animals they must face the elements of nature every minute of their lives.  They must toil for each morsel of food, fight for territory, defend their nests and their young and defend themselves against predators if and when they are encountered.  To me, this sounds like a hard life. 

There is so much more to these beautiful birds than what we see as spectators.   That the scriptures use them to give us hope is quite meaningful.  If I were to add my own paraphrase, this verse would go something like this, "..those who hope in the Creator God, will renew their strength and be able to carry on just like the eagle soars even when its day has been full of toil and woe; they will run and not grow weary because the Lord will continue to strengthen them through each and every painful step and they will walk in confidence, leaning on Him to keep them on their feet."  

What is wearing you down today?  I urge you to look up and to grab the hand of the Almighty.  Allow Him to use the examples in nature to reassure you that He is in control.  For, if He can be the wind beneath the wings of a weary eagle, then just think what He can and will do for us.  God bless you.