“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
Driving to church the other day, I noticed something in the middle of the road. As I approached, I saw that it was a beautiful bald eagle. It was so engrossed in eating roadkill that it paid no attention to me, and I had to stop the car. Once it noticed me, it tried to fly off with the rotted raccoon carcass it was feeding on, but it was too heavy. So it made a series of hops, dragging the dead raccoon into the middle of someone’s yard, and there it started feeding again.
What a strange scene. A majestic bald eagle, the symbol of our nation’s strength, freedom, and pride, was unable to fly because it wouldn’t let go of the garbage it was feeding on. I don’t think that’s the image Isaiah had in mind when he said that those who hope in the Lord will soar on wings like eagles. On the other hand, it is perhaps a fitting image for those times when we desire things that are not worthy of God’s people. How many times have we been weighed down by garbage that keeps us from soaring?
This week may you be able to let go of whatever is holding you down and rise up with renewed strength and hope in the Lord.
Pastor Mark