Nobody can control every circumstance in life. Adversities come. Storms slam against us. Pain is universal to all people. While we cannot control these things, we can learn to cope with them. One of the verses that helps me to cope is Is 40:31. I especially love the phrase that those who wait on the LORD will mount up on wings like eagles.
Eagles are one of my two favorite animals. I once sat on a ranch and had a view of an eagle perched high on a tree limb looking over a lake. I watched that eagle in fascination for well over an hour. I noticed he did not fly in a flock. He sat alone. Other birds flew all around him. He never stooped to their level. He sat majestically on his perch just watching. He was content to be who God created him to be and not a follower of other feathered fowl. What a great lesson for all of us.
About an hour into watching I witnessed a magnificent sight. The eagle flapped his wings lifting from the perch and soared to the water surface. With skillful precision he reached his talons into the water and snatched a fish. With is prey in hand, he soared off into the distance out of sight. A reminder that God is our provider. There are times we have to wait for His provision like the eagle waited for His catch. God will provide in His way and in His time.
I went home and studied about eagles after that. Did you know that eagles mate for life? Another lesson for us to be committed to covenant marriage. We are not look and long for what is not lawfully and not covenantly our spouses.
The fact that fascinated me the most is when an eagle sees a storm approaching they soar high above the storm unphased by the torrential rains and winds. We are exhorted to mount on wings like an eagle as we wait on God's help and endurance whatever we are facing. While we live on this side of heaven, that does not mean we can't gain strength and comfort by what awaits us after and above the storms of life.
Too often we get caught up in the storms of life. We think they will never end. From the eagle's vantage point, they see the storm's beginning and ending. They understand that the storms will not last forever. So they soar until they blow over. We need to do the same thing in prayer. Soar above our circumstances spiritually until days of calm and peace return. We do this in prayer and by tenaciously clinging to the word of God to anchor our souls.
Tough times do not last forever. Storms do pass. This is something to be remembered when life is chaotic and people start reacting to life in chaotic ways. I remember that eagle firmly perched unphased by whatever other bird did. Just because people choose to live in fear and anxiety when adversities come does not mean we have to follow suit. We can live with a peace that surpasses all understanding.
God created us in His image. We are people of faith. Jesus slept in a storm while the disciples panicked. We can go through storms and soar above them in spirit. Through faith in an all powerful God who never grows weary nor ever frets, in the tough times we can endure. We are in His hands. We can rest easy t hat He is still in control. I am not suggesting all these times will easy smooth sailing. We may be tested severely. It is in those times that our faith is strengthened and God shows Himself faithful. He strengthened us through difficult times in the past. He will do the same thing currently as well as in the future. May He enable us to mount up with wings and soar above trials and tribulations with peace.
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