I love going to the zoo. I love to see animals. I could sit in front of an orangutan enclosure for hours (not kidding, ask my family)! Even more, I love to see wild animals in their natural surroundings. I don’t mean the backyard bunnies and chipmunks or even occasional blue bird. I mean the only-on-vacation animals; moose, antelope, mountain goats, bears, alligators, etc. I had never seen a bald eagle in the wild until a few years ago kayaking down the White River near our house. So imagine the thrill of learning there was an eagle’s nest at Eagle Creek Reservoir just a few miles from our new house. Or even more excitement to pull into the church parking lot and see one sitting on the bank of the church’s retention pond. Or when Sari was on her walk and texted me that title picture as one is perched on a neighbor’s house overlooking a pond. Or the next day when a friend sent me a picture of the same one on the same house! I have yet to see it but you better believe my eyes are scanning the roof tops when going through our neighborhood.

There is something majestic about an eagle. It doesn’t matter if it is perched on a roof top or soaring high in the sky or just above the water of the White River (that was a awesome kayaking day!).  I think that is why God uses the image of an eagle to describe his followers.“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 penned those words at the end of his description of God’s sending Israel into exile in Babylon but promising that God would one day deliver them. These are words of hope no matter what hardship we are facing or suffering we are currently experiencing. Israel was facing judgment and exile. You have a marriage that is struggling. You have a job that is less than fulfilling or demanding too much of your time and energy. You have a fear-filled doctor visit coming up. No matter what scary thing is before us. Even if we are sending our 5-6 year old into the world of kindergarten, or our 17-18 year old college freshman out into the world to fly on their own!

God offers hope. God is HOPE! Verses 28-30, says God is everlasting, doesn’t grow tired, giver of strength, giver of power, keeps us from stumbling and falling as we go through the pressure packed circumstances of everyday life. With God, life can be one of overcoming. A life of victory. We are more than conquerors. We will persevere and prevail. “We will be able to stand our ground. And after you have done everything, to remain standing.” (Ephesians 6:13, the armor of God) These are descriptors of champions, fighters, winners, even more than conquerors = those who have put their hope in the Lord.

Where is your hope in the midst of what ever you are facing?

“Walk, Run, Soar!”