Pastor’s Corner: “Flying Lessons”
Isaiah 40:29-31 (CJB) – 9 He invigorates the exhausted, he gives strength to the powerless. 30 Young men may grow tired and weary, even the fittest may stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope (trust) in Adonai will renew their strength, they will soar aloft as with eagles’ wings; when they are running they won’t grow weary, when they are walking they won’t get tired.
Driving the other day, I came upon a bird in the middle of the road. Expecting the bird to move, I continued to head towards it slowly, but it just continued to stand there happily in the middle of the road, unaware of the approaching danger – completely oblivious. By this point, I was getting pretty close, so I slowed the car some more, and finally, the bird noticed me. But here’s the strange part, rather than flying away, it tried to run away. For the next thirty seconds or so I rode along behind the bird, which was increasingly panicking, running as fast as its legs would carry it. It was funny to watch, and I wondered how long it would be before it remembered it could fly. Then, at last, it remembered it had wings and flew off. As I drove away, it made me consider this question: why do things with wings try to use their feet first? If we are honest with ourselves, sometimes we can be like that bird.
We forget that we have access to wings. When we face difficult circumstances, we try to work our way out of it. We worry, we plan, we think, we question. In our panic, we work frantically trying to sort everything out, trying to make it right by fixing it by ourselves. We think that it all depends on us– all the time forgetting the fact that we have a much greater power at our disposal. We have access to soar on wings like eagles!
We need to be reminded. Here are some other scriptures to reinforce this truth: We have God’s power – (Ephesians 3:19-20 NLT) – “the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead.” We have the Holy Spirit – (2 Timothy 1:7 NLT) – a Spirit of “power, love, and self-discipline.” We have the assurance that (Philippians 4:13 NLT) – “I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Why use your feet when you have wings?
Experts on eagles tell us that these birds are able to fly in challenging conditions because they are able to tilt their wings so as to negotiate the stormy currents of air. It is not as if they just avoid the storms. Rather they adjust to them. They can actually use the buffeting winds to help them fly. So we are not encouraged to blissfully dismiss the troubles of life, to presume that because we follow Jesus we are somehow immune from them. Or at least we can avoid the pain and grief that is part of human life. We are encouraged to tilt our wings in a way that may not sidestep the storm but will allow us to get through it. We are given God’s own strength to get through. We don’t have to manufacture our own tenacity and power. God gives us his resources. We don’t “tilt our wings” all on our own. Soaring like eagles may not mean a smooth ride, but it may mean a safe destination.
Trials force you to respond. You can flee (run), fight or fly above them. Are you facing a trial today? God has a purpose in your trial and wants you to learn how to fly above it. There is a condition to flying that is shown in Isaiah 40:31 31 but those who hope (trust) in Adonai will renew their strength, they will soar aloft as with eagles’ wings; We cannot fly without trust and hope in God. Cast your burden upon Him and trust Him for the strength to fly above your difficulty.
Whether it is pride, stubbornness, forgetfulness, or merely force of habit, we are not meant to live this life in our own strength. We are made to fly and that only happens when we trust God and what His Son Jesus has done for us. We were not created to battle in our own strength, desperately running and never quite making it, feeling increasingly overwhelmed and on the verge of defeat. We were made to turn to Him – to acknowledge our weakness and experience His power, the power that lifts us, no matter what our circumstances, and enables us to soar on wings like eagles in His strength. We were made to fly!
In His Grace,
Pastor Hamilton