Soaring
"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not grow weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31
This is one of my favorite Bible verses, and it has been a source of encouragement for me through many dark days. I hear it quoted often, but I wonder if most people grasp the full promise of it. At first glance, it may seem that those who truly wait on God should find themselves always soaring. What that must do to someone's faith, though, when tragedy strikes, and their spirits are most certainly NOT soaring! --when they can't imagine themselves ever soaring again.
This verse is about so much more than that. It's about waiting on God and the promise of strength while we wait for Him to answer our prayers, to work in our situation. When rough times come, and we cry out, we must wait for an answer. Sometimes, the answer comes right away, even called miraculous by some. And we do, indeed, soar. Sometimes, we must wait a bit as God works out the details, but He promises that while we are running, He will give us the strength to run without exhaustion. And sometimes...
Sometimes, the answers seem so long in coming that we can only walk because of the weight of the burden. In those times, He promises enough strength to continue walking without fainting.
A couple of weeks ago, I spent the day with a friend whose daughter died in a car accident. Her grief is tremendously heavy, but she is walking and waiting on the Lord for her daily strength. She quoted this verse to me as she told me of seeing an eagle that morning and how the sight reminded her to keep trusting.
I am reminded to pray for her and for her family as they grieve and forge ahead with life. Until they find themselves soaring again.
This is one of my favorite Bible verses, and it has been a source of encouragement for me through many dark days. I hear it quoted often, but I wonder if most people grasp the full promise of it. At first glance, it may seem that those who truly wait on God should find themselves always soaring. What that must do to someone's faith, though, when tragedy strikes, and their spirits are most certainly NOT soaring! --when they can't imagine themselves ever soaring again.
This verse is about so much more than that. It's about waiting on God and the promise of strength while we wait for Him to answer our prayers, to work in our situation. When rough times come, and we cry out, we must wait for an answer. Sometimes, the answer comes right away, even called miraculous by some. And we do, indeed, soar. Sometimes, we must wait a bit as God works out the details, but He promises that while we are running, He will give us the strength to run without exhaustion. And sometimes...
Sometimes, the answers seem so long in coming that we can only walk because of the weight of the burden. In those times, He promises enough strength to continue walking without fainting.
A couple of weeks ago, I spent the day with a friend whose daughter died in a car accident. Her grief is tremendously heavy, but she is walking and waiting on the Lord for her daily strength. She quoted this verse to me as she told me of seeing an eagle that morning and how the sight reminded her to keep trusting.
I am reminded to pray for her and for her family as they grieve and forge ahead with life. Until they find themselves soaring again.
Comments