Soaring

Towards the end he could barely walk a few feet. Leukemia was winning the battle. When my husband was safe in the arms of Jesus, silence reigned in the house. In that quiet, before reality completely took hold, this verse came to me…

“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 40:31 NIV) When I looked up the passage, I read the preceding verses as well. These have been my strength, and I offer them to you for your hard situation now. They are God’s reminder of Who He is. What He does. Why we can trust Him.

It’s been nearly six months. In that short time so much has happened. Unexpected home repairs, car foibles, depths of emotions I had never experienced, and amazing moments that are no coincidence (because with God there is no such thing). Jesus has seen me through. Had I somehow been able to foresee the frenzy of them, I would have said, ‘No way. I can’t do this. I’m not doing this.’ And I can’t – and I didn’t – in my own strength.

Who is God? “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.” (Isaiah 40: 28 NIV) This verse gives us a peak into Who our God is. Everlasting. Creator. Never tired or weary. Comprehending beyond more than we even know that there is to know. He has always been, will always be, with no beginning or end. He created our tears, our sighs, our giggles and our content exhales.

What does He do? “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.” (Isaiah 40: 29- 31a NIV) Look at what He does – gives and gives more. Strength. Power. Hope. Renewal. Now when we want it to be so? Sometimes. Not always. But definitely. In our loved one’s hard struggles – on earth? Maybe, but for sure in eternity. In our whys, what nows, hows? Yes, but not answers, just Himself – always, ever with us.

Why we can trust Him: “They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31b NIV) This part of the passage is a promise. A promise in the Old Testament for the Israelites, a promise in the New Testament and beyond for all who believe in His Son Jesus. For all God’s promises are yes and amen for every follower of Messiah. The ones before Jesus’ presence on earth and the ones after He rose from the dead.

Go back through this verse and find the word ‘but’ and read the rest of the sentence. Drew Josephs in a devotional he wrote about Isaiah 40:31 says, “The renewal and strength you seek, the walking and running and soaring on wings like eagles are dependent on your hope in the Lord.” So, I find myself smiling more because I know, without doubt, my man is not only walking, not only running, he is soaring.