Have you ever stopped to watch a bird soar; I mean really soar? Watch her waiting on a perch for just the right gust of wind and step right off into the air and let the current lift her high? And then, with her wings stretched all the way out, she glides, with what seems like no effort on her part, higher and higher until you cannot see her anymore. There’s just something so, so beautiful about it all.
For me, this picture is perfectly painted for us in Isaiah 40:28-31.
Let’s take a look at this passage through the lens of our SOAP study method!
Scripture:
God doesn’t come and go. God lasts. He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine. He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath. And he knows everything, inside and out. He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts. For even young people tire and drop out, and those in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, they run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind. Isaiah 40:28-31 MSG
Observation:
· God is not subject to fatigue of any kind, nor does He ever get tired.
· He knows when we do, however, and restores us regardless of our age, or life season, or our current life circumstances.
· His restoration brings us fresh strength for whatever life brings our way.
· We soar when we wait with hope for His restoration instead of trying to muscle through on our own, under our own strength.
Application:
· I will meditate on the FACT that God never runs of out energy to care of His creation!
· Even though He already knows when I’m burned out, tired, or tempted to quit, I will go to Him and tell Him what’s going on, laying it all at His feet, knowing His promise of restoration and promise of strength is for me, too.
· Because His ways are higher and better than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9), I will practice waiting on Him with hope and patience instead of continuing to try to force ahead of Him, wearing myself out because I can’t do it on my own (or at least I cannot do it well…)!
· I will not give up and instead I will trust Him to provide everything I need to walk my own unique life journey.
Prayer:
Lord,
Your love and protection for Your people continually amazes me. Thank you for Your provision and care in all our circumstances and stages of our lives. Would you continue to lift me up today because I feel so worn down by demands on my time and energy. They feel like weights on my body, mind, and spirit. Instead of me just bull-dozing my way ahead on my own, remind me to rely on YOUR strength. Help me to be expectantly patient and full of hope in the waiting. You know what’s best for me and I know Your timing is perfect.
“I’ve figured out we don’t learn to walk and run by striving with our own strength. The eagle does not flap her wings wildly and expect to successfully take off. Instead, she waits patiently for just the right gust of wind to help her rise. She lifts her head and waits in hope.
He breathes. And she spreads her wings and soars.” Dorina Gilmore
Heavenly Father, remind me to lift my eyes in hope.
Amen
His mercies are new each day, sweet friends. It’s never too late to learn how to fly.
Join us next week when we find refuge in God in Psalm 91.
Praying for you and yours, and counting you as one of ours!
Xoxoxoxo,
