On January 12 in America, Eagle Day was celebrated to commemorate the Bald Eagle becoming the national emblem in 1782.  It really is not bald, but its white-feathered head in contrast to its chocolate-brown body gives it the appearance of being bald.  It can dive at speeds of 100 miles per hour, and its eyesight is four to eight times stronger than people.  It is considered the king of birds, due to its great strength, how fast and high it can fly, and its ferociousness.

        “Words from Above” in the Bible portray eagles as an example of how the Lord gives power and strength to those who are weak.  Isaiah 40 tells us first of all that the Lord Himself never faints nor is He weary, and there is no searching of His understanding.  This enables Him to “give power to the faint and to increase strength in those who are weak.”  The prophet Isaiah says that even youth shall faint, and young men shall utterly fail, but “they who wait on 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 be faint.”   

        We normally do not think of youth as being weak or faint, but we think of them as being in their prime as far as strength and ability are concerned.  Nor do we think of young men as falling, but we rather think of them being steady on their feet and well-balanced. But the prophet is saying that when what is usually normal is no longer normal, there is a way to remedy that situation.  His remedy is for those who are weak or faint to “wait upon the Lord”, which means to put their trust in the Lord. 

        Putting our trust in the Lord enables us to renew our strength, to rise up with wings as eagles, to run and not be weary, and to walk and not faint. Bald eagles are able to rise up from their perch using their broad wings and their powerful flying muscles.  When they come across a pocket of warm air rising above cooler air, they circle over the middle of it, and the warm air lifts the eagles to heights up to three miles above the surface of the earth. 

        Likewise, those who wait upon the Lord rise above the times of both weakness and weariness in their lives, because the Lord undergirds us with His powerful “wings” to lift us.  He helps us to climb to new heights as He reaches down and pulls us above the weak moments of our lives.  What we cannot do alone, He enables us to do.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Larry R. Steffee is pastor of the Center Hill Brethren In Christ Church on Miller Road in Smithville. 

Everyone is welcome to attend.  For information, you may email lrsteffeetn@yahoo.com.