Take That Which is Coming Against You

         My husband and I like to listen to Comedy USA on satellite radio. Comedy USA is the channel that has clean comedy. Very funny stuff. Obviously since this is a comedy channel, it is rare that you hear anything serious on this station. But the other day, there was a comedian doing standup comedy (unfortunately I don’t know his name or I would definitely give him credit here). He told his audience he wanted to leave them with an encouraging thought. It seems he had been in Atlanta just a few days before and he had been having a difficult time. So he went to Stone Mountain to have some time alone, to think. He climbed to the top of the mountain and there, perched on a tree, was an eagle. He sat and watched this eagle for a while, observing its beauty, its proud stance, its haughty look. Unexpectedly, a strong wind rose. He was sure that the eagle would fly off – away from the wind. But instead, the eagle perched steadfast in the face of the strong wind. The comedian watched and waited but the eagle never moved. The very instant the wind reached the eagle where he sat on the tree limb, the eagle spread his wings and allowed the wind to lift him up—he soared into the air and away from the mountain. The eagle used that which was coming against him to lift him up. The comedian said he knew there was a lesson there and it would preach. “Take that which is coming against you and use it to lift you up.”

Take that which is coming against you, and use it to make you stronger. Take that which is coming against you and use it to grow your trust in God. Take that which is coming against you and use it to help others. The Bible says that which was meant for evil, God turned for good. (my paraphrase of Genesis 50:20).

Scripture also tells us that we should “put on the whole armor of God and having done all, stand.” (Eph. 6:13, emphasis mine)

Although the comedian didn’t speak of the eagle’s preparation to face the adversity of the wind, I don’t think the eagle casually hung out on that limb. I can see his talons wrapping around that limb as tight as possible. I can see his body tense to prepare for the onslaught of the wind. I see the eagle lift his head slightly, perhaps to gauge the speed or direction of the wind. But I like to think the eagle raised his head to stare down his adversity.  And when he had done those things, he stood (or perched as the case may be. J)  

Just as the eagle did—just as the Scripture says in Ephesians 6:13—we do all we can do and then we stand. And we wait. And we hope.

“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.” (Is. 40:31NIV)