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)
Those who hope in the LORD will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, and they will walk and not be faint! You surely can’t read these words without feeling empowered to do whatever you want to do! I’ve seen these words printed on everything from athletic t-shirts to posters to coffee mugs. This verse brings to mind the movie Chariots of Fire—an inspirational film about the life of Eric Liddell, a Scottish missionary who trained to run in the 1924 Paris Olympics. Eric refused to run when he found out his event would have him race on Sunday. I can almost hear the movie’s theme song as I type! I am so encouraged when God’s Word pushes me to find my hope and strength in Him!
I must admit, there are days I don’t feel I’m soaring on wings of eagles. Instead, I feel like I’m flapping my wings like a parakeet! Why is there a difference between how God says I should live and how I actually experience life some days? Isaiah doesn’t appear to say that some days you may soar and others you may plunge! Exodus 19 also references eagles’ wings. God tells Moses, “This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.’” (Exodus 19:3-4) I had missed something in this verse until just recently. I knew God carried the Israelites out of Egypt and out of bondage, but I missed the best part! I didn’t realize God was carrying them to Himself! God wants us to come to Him, and as we do, we will find hope and deliverance from anything that keeps us from soaring with Him.
God’s deliverance of those He loves throughout history shows us His sovereignty over the nations. He continues to act on behalf of His children. God has a plan for our lives, and His power will enable us to find hope when we feel hopeless and renew our strength during times of weakness. One of the ways God showed me strength during a time of personal weakness was to bring me a special friend. God knew I needed His strength, and He sent Karen Stubbs to encourage me. He knew I needed Karen before I knew I needed Karen.
Karen is the founder of Birds On A Wire, a ministry that serves and loves on moms. Karen and I have a similar heartbeat—to lead women to Jesus. We have found strength from each other as God has burdened our hearts to pray for each other. There have been times we felt prompted to send a text of encouragement to each other when only God knew we were weak.
I need to know God will give me His strength to be the mom He has asked me to be. So many sweet Cup of Joy ladies need to know they can find hope every day because God is a God of hope! As we trust in Him, His power will raise us above the things that try to knock us down. Our hope is in Him. Our strength comes from Him, and because we have a God who has the perfect plan for our lives, we are able to soar as we fly under His wings of protection and direction.
My favorite line in Chariots of Fire is when Eric talks to his sister about either being a missionary or an Olympic runner. Eric says, “When I run, I can feel His pleasure!”
When we set our hearts on God, not only will we soar, we too will feel His pleasure! He gives us His power, and our hope is found in Him.
Further Reading
Romans 8:28; Psalm 139
