Like Eagles

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But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31


“With wings like eagles,” God has described us in His Word. We all have grand images of the majesty of an eagle flying in the air. In fact, in Proverbs 30:18-19(a), God’s Word speaks of “way of an eagle in the air” being almost too wonderful to take.

When we’re in the midst of a great trial, however, we do not always believe these Biblical assurances of our “eagle” status, do we? If fact, sometimes in the midst of these trials, we completely DISbelieve these Scriptures.

Perhaps an understanding of the very creature that God chose as His example in these verses will help us to understand..

You see, these wondrous birds of flight become “grounded,” too. All of them. When they’re mature, able and in their prime in most cases.

At some point in every eagle’s life they - by natural process - lose (shed) certain feathers without which they cannot fly. That’s right. In the midst of their greatest season, they can’t even get off the ground.

The other eagles, by instinct, bring food and water to the downed eagle much like they would bring it to a newborn eagle. Eventually, the feathers grow back, and the eagle is again able to fly and carry on for itself as before. And one by one, they all take their turn on the ground.

There is only one reason that virtually all eagle’s survive this period of inexplicable “flightlessness,” and too many human believers do not; eagles do not battle against pride.

Eagles are practical, and they know that if they do not allow the other eagles to bring them food and water, they will die. Many believers, during our own bouts with flightlessness, are not so practical. We may try to survive our crisis by sheer force of will. After all, we’re mature and able right?

But behind this brave exterior lie daunting questions that trouble all “downed” believers and doom to failure any attempts to “go it alone”. “Why did this happen to me”? “When will it end”? “What would people think if they knew that I’m having this crisis in my faith”? “Can I make it out of this”?

They shall mount up with wings as eagles.......

Sometimes we, like eagles, fly high above our adversaries and problems in complete control. Praise God for these days!

But we must also remember that sometimes, “mounting up with wings as eagles” means bringing spiritual food (sharing God’s Word and encouragement with those who are “flightless”) and water (God’s Spirit flowing through us to others in need) to others.

And - yes - as eagles we will all take our turn on the ground. We will look up into the air, where it seems like every other eagle can fly but us. We must look even higher in the sky, though - to Heaven.

And as we behold our Father and our Lord, we will be reminded of and believe the Truth; that we as believers have been made one, and we are Christ’s Body through God’s Holy Spirit. And, as such, we must allow every other eagle to help us in our times of helplessness. We must all take our turn, and our trust in God must be greater than our fear of rejection.

True believers, true eagles, know that these things are true.


Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD ,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights.
Habakkuk 3:17-19(c) (NIV)

They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end.
Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psalm 107:23-31 (KJV)

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 9:6 (NIV)

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