By Judy Villanueva

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;  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)

We huffed and puffed up the last of three inclines that make up our regular workout and just as we crested the hill my husband pointed to something that called us to attention.  There above us was an eagle soaring effortlessly, catching thermals and being lifted up higher and higher until we could barely make out its form in the sky.  God seemed to be speaking to us through this majestic creature, encouraging us to hope beyond gravity and all the things that tether our faith to the ground.  Expending very little energy, the eagle road the thermals  to amazing heights and a view that stretched out for miles!  

A thermal is a column of rising air created when the sun warms the earth and forms an atmospheric updraft.  Don’t we all need a little updraft to help us soar above our lives and catch a broader view?   

There is something about flying that speaks of freedom, of rising above the constraints of our circumstances  — and our tired and weary places.

Without hope we are earthbound and cut off from sweet dreams and bright tomorrows.  “BUT,”  as Isaiah declares, “those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength;  they will soar on wings like eagles!  They will run and not grow weary.”  And, there it is!  Our thermal! 

God is the eternal, immortal, invisible — atmospheric updraft of the soul! 

His love warms our hearts and lifts up hope within us.  But how, we might ask, how do we catch and soar on Holy thermals?  

Hoping in the Lord involves experiencing His love and learning to discern His movements around us.  This happens whenever we dwell in His presence —

when we slow down, calm down, and put down all our doing and reach for God instead! 

We enter His embrace when we read His Word and listen.  We stretch out our wings as we meditate on what we read and let the Truth become our fuel for flight. We find renewed strength when we sing His praises and rejoice in His love.  

We soar as we spread out our faith and let the Holy Spirit lift us up into hope — hope eternal and unfailing, hope that rests in the heart of God

—a sacred place with a view that stretches out for miles — and the very best launch pad for flight!

“Father, I thank you that you are a steady and faithful place of hope and hoping.  Help me to discern your movements around me.  Lift up hope within me.   Amen.”   

What about you? 

Are you tired and weary?  Do you need some encouragement to hope beyond gravity?

Are you cultivating a habit of slowing and quieting with God’s word?  It is a helpful and fruitful way to read.

Are there things you need to put down so you can reach for God?

Are you experiencing God’s love and learning to discern His movements around you?

Worship