I went walking the other day. It was a morning full of frustration and battling discouragement. I arrived at my usual track and spotted a hawk taking off from the trees. “Stop and Watch” I heard the Lord whisper. “I have something to show you.” Hawks have always been a confirming sign of God’s Presence for me, but this was new. Okay. I stopped and watched as the hawk took flight, using his wings to gain altitude. And then it happened.
He stopped flapping his wings and started gliding on the wind currents. The verse from Isaiah came to mind. “Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” (Isaiah 40:31) Suddenly I saw what the Lord was speaking in Isaiah!
I watched that hawk soar higher and farther with hardly any effort! He glided to higher heights! He climbed on the current of the wind and it took him so far he was out of my sight. He didn’t get tired. He didn’t become weary. He soared as he “waited” for the current to take him to new places.
And I understood. When we wait for the Lord, when we wait for His wind to carry us, His timing to move us, His current to transport us, we too have the ability to soar higher and farther without expending the energy it takes to try to get there on our own strength.
Suddenly I realized I didn’t have to battle frustration and discouragement. Jesus has already done that on my behalf. I just have to soar on the wind of His authority and victory. Glory to God!
“Take me higher and further Lord” has become my constant prayer. “Give me eagle’s wings!”