Fly Like an Eagle...

This is the second of two posts from two years ago. These words actually hold more meaning for me now, than they did at the start of the journey....

Strength to Endure the Journey

"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 KJV

"But those expecting Jehovah pass to power, They raise up the pinion as eagles, They run and are not fatigued, They go on and do not faint!" Isaiah 40:31 Young's Literal Translation

Enduring the journey is often a difficult task. We may question the direction we are heading, asking God if we are going the right way. The Lord never promised that we would not have to endure difficult roads or long journeys. In all actuality, Paul equated our time on this earth with running a race. It is a race of length, a journey, a test of endurance.

I have always quoted the King James Version of Isaiah 40:31. It is the one most commonly referenced. I came across Young's Literal Translation this morning, and it gives a refreshing new view on this scripture.

"But those expecting Jehovah to pass power..."
Jehovah is a special, significant name for our God. The meaning of this special name appears to be "the unchanging, eternal, self-existent God," the "I am that I am," "a covenant-keeping God." He is constant. He will always keep His promises. He is forever.

Expecting Him to pass power reflects an expectancy for God to act. If it is power passed by God, that means that we are unable to accomplish this task without Him.....it requires His power. Our strength alone is not sufficient.

"They raise up the pinion as eagles"
The pinions of an eagle are the primary feathers used for flight. They control the lift and directional movement of the bird. The strength of these feathers is unparalleled, and the follicle of each feather must endure the extreme atmospheric pressure encountered during flight. Interestingly, these feathers also provide insulation preserve the eagle's body heat in the cold, as well as shielding against overheating. When an eagle raises or spreads its primary feathers, it reduces the drag on the bird's flight. Drag is an aerodynamic force that reduces the forward motion of any object.

Think about those concepts......God promises that we will be able to rise above the situation and will be able to move in a concerted direction. We won't be subject to whichever way the wind blows. We will have the strength to endure, and will be protected against the extremes. While we may encounter cold or heat, they will not be allowed to overcome us. Also, He will help us to continue forward. We were built to move forward, to move on toward the goal.

They run and are not fatigued, They go on and do not faint!"
God doesn't promise that everything will come to us. We will move toward the goal, even running to the goal at times. Remember, he built us for forward motion. He did not build us to stay in one place or to move backward. Even though our journey may be long, he will provide the endurance required when we trust in Him.

Eagles travel long distances by climbing high upon a thermal current and then gliding to catch the next thermal. While we often see and think of eagles as solitary birds, during long journeys they will sometimes travel in thermals together. Endure your journey by rising above the circumstances. While your journey may not be exactly the same as someone else's, remember that God has placed others in our lives to help us complete the length of the course.


God provides amazing promises in His word, and He is always true to them. It is His very nature. The condition of these promises???........"Those who trust in the Lord." It boils down to one word--TRUST.

Do you trust the Creator of the universe to direct your path and give you the strength to endure the journey? Ask the Lord to strengthen your trust in Him--it is the fuel necessary to complete your journey.