Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
I drove my husband’s car yesterday. He will sometimes listen to Laugh USA – a comedy station that broadcasts only clean material. Many times, when I use his car, I’ll change the station to Christian music, but I didn’t do that yesterday. I effectively blocked out the comedian on the air until I heard him say something to the effect that in closing, he wanted to get serious. So I listened as he shared the following story. I didn’t get his name, so I will call him John.
John had visited Stone Mountain recently and had climbed up the mountain. He was enjoying the view when an eagle flew past him and perched on a ledge. He carefully got his camera out to snap some pictures, but just as he was ready to take a picture, the wind shifted and came from the opposite direction. John was positive the eagle would take flight so he didn’t bother trying to capture the Kodak moment. However, the eagle stayed perfectly still, even with the wind coming directly towards him. As soon as the moment was right, the eagle allowed the wind to lift him up and help him to fly off of the ledge. John realized that the eagle used that which was coming against him to make him successful in his endeavor – taking flight. And that was John’s advice to his audience: “take that which is coming against you and use it to lift you higher.”
The Bible says in John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” If you have been a Christian for any length of time, you know this verse to be true. The thief – the enemy – will do whatever it takes to bring us down. He will come against us and our family through illness, loss of job, marital problems, financial problems, wayward children, etc., to destroy us and our families. The rest of this verse is our answer to the enemy’s attack: God has come to give us life and life more abundantly. One of the ways He has provided for us to have that abundant life is through the verse at the opening of this devotion: Isaiah 40:31. As we wait on Him and lean on Him for help against the attack, He lifts us up as if we had wings like the eagle. And He will use that thing which is coming against us to lift us up higher. Selah.
Maranatha!
© Edwina E. Cowgill 2010
1 comment:
Our scout troop recites Isa 40:31 whenever we have an eagle ceremony.
They used to take a trip each spring to Reelfoot Lake to watch (and photograph) the eagles catching fish on the lake.
While working on one of the multimedia presentations for a ceremony a few years back I came across a video that had footage just like you described.
And what a beautiful tidbit of perspective to add bite to it!
It is interesting that the storms come to all of us in this life, perhaps more to some than others.
But while most birds will hunker in their bunker during a storm, the eagle commonly will take to the sky in joy, allowing the winds of the storm to carry them far above the trouble below.
Perhaps we should allow the storms of this life, as you say, to lift us up to Him...
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