Soar Like an Eagle
Isaiah 40: 31 reads, “But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” (NLT), was a promise given to me during one of my ‘quiet times’ at the end of 2021. And the phrase “soar like an eagle” stood out. I prayed, “Lord, you know what 2022 holds for me. So be it stress, anxiety, sickness, challenges, or whatever it may be that the year brings, help me to soar high above them all, on wings like an eagle, trusting in you.” This promising, powerful, and comforting verse was my lifeline throughout 2022. And my God has proved to be faithful all the time.
An eagle in flight has always fascinated me. It’s a wonder how these large, majestic birds seem to glide effortlessly across the sky with such power and stability, far above the noise and commotion below. Though there are many things that you can learn from an eagle, let me share with you, one fact about this magnificent bird, based on this verse.
These large birds move through the landscape by soaring, a style of flying where they stretch their wings outward and glide, hardly flapping their wings. Thermal updrafts (large atmospheric gusts of winds), form when energy from the sun heats air at the Earth’s surface. The eagles rely on these rising air currents to gain altitude, unlike other birds, who flap their wings to stay in the air, thus saving them considerable energy. Because eagles soar on wind currents rather than flapping their wings, they can fly for many hours without using up too much energy. Sometimes, an eagle will perch and wait for days to catch a wind thermal that can carry it.
Eagles love the storm as it provides excellent wind thermals. When all other birds try to flee from the storm and hide from its fierceness, eagles will deliberately seek out and fly into it and will use the wind currents produced by the storm to rise higher in a matter of seconds. They use the pressure of the storm to glide higher without having to use their own energy. The eagle knows that by enduring the temporary adversity of the storm, it will be projected to clear, peaceful skies above.
God is faithful (reliable, trustworthy, and ever true) to His promises (1 Corinthians 1:9) because that is who He is (Numbers 23:19). The promise of “soaring on wings like an eagle” is one that God will fulfill for every believer. However, as the first part of Isaiah 40:3 says, this promise will only be experienced by those who choose to place their trust in God and wait with hope and confident expectation of the fulfillment
of His promises. Just as the eagle relies on a wind current to determine its flight path, if we choose to wait on God and rely on Him (Micah 7:7) as our source of strength and energy, we can conserve our energy by allowing Him to direct our paths. He has given us the free will to choose. It’s up to us to choose to hope in Him or be weighed down by the storms in our life.
Moreover, instead of flapping our wings to move in our own strength, we can stretch out our wings and soar with little or no effort, allowing the Lord to take us to heights that we could never achieve on our own. Just like the eagle, remember that the adversities or the challenges that the storm brings are temporary, and facing it relying on the upward thrust (strength that God brings), will help to ride out any storm, to reach the clear, blue skies above. Let God fight your battles for you, rather than trying to work out your problems with your own strength, (Exodus 14:14). You only need to be “still” and rely on Him (Psalm 46;10). Wait on God and trust in His beautiful and perfect timing rather than trying to force situations according to your wish and timing, (2 Peter 3:8 – 9; Ecclesiastes 3:11). Hand your burdens over to God, rather than carry it yourself (1Peter 5:7).
Isaiah 40 also mentions why it is possible to put our hope in God. Firstly, He is Sovereign and rules with a mighty arm. When He comes for you, He has His reward with Him. He takes care of you, carries you, and gently leads you (verses 10 – 11). Secondly, the Lord has no equal (verses 12 – 26). And lastly, He is everlasting, the Creator of the ends of the Earth. He does not grow tired or weary like anyone else and his wisdom no one can fathom (verse 28). We can trust in the Lord forever because He is Rock Eternal (Isaiah 26:4). So, “let go” and let God take control over the storms of your life. And in doing so, He will fill you with such energy, confidence, and faith, that will allow you to soar to greater heights of peace, joy, perseverance, maturity, revelation, and ultimate victory.
-Joyce Abraham
