Rise up

Isaiah 41:4 

"But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."

I’m reminded of a hike I took with the kids from the orphanage recently. Now, I’m not a hiker. I have arthritis which plagues me. But I take an anti-inflammatory which helps keep it livable. However, I ran out. I can’t cross to get more. So I hurt. Every day it’s a struggle to get out of bed. Thankfully I have this cream, it works well. That’s not the point. This day I went hiking with the kids – we woke up early and got on the road. When we began the hike I felt good but we got about five minutes in and absolutely everything hurt. My knees hurt, my back, my neck. The change in elevation was wreaking havoc on my arthritis. I didn’t know how I would possibly make it through. So at our first stop at a rock formation I stopped. I applied some cream and I prayed. I wanted to be able to do a light hike like a normal person. I wanted to experience it with the kids. I wanted to see their faces as they explored something new they’ve never before experienced or seen. So I prayed. Then I got up and kept walking. And suddenly I felt great! I was jumping and skipping along. I was bouncy. I felt amazing. I felt ten years younger. I had a great day with the kids. I think that’s what this passage is talking about. There are going to be trials. Sometimes we have to just wait on God – but it doesn’t mean we have nothing to do in the waiting. Sometimes we apply the cream and we keep walking. We pray, We apply the cream, we walk, we wait for God to work. He always works! If we will be patient and prayerful we will rise up stronger than we have ever been! Every trial is meant to grow us. He brings good from everything. So if we pray and wait for God to do His thing, we will run and not become weary. We will rise up – like never before. And what a testimony that will be to those around us. I know – this seems like something trivial to some. But to me – I was an eagle taking flight remembering that eagles fly highest and farthest in a storm.

My Prayer:  Dad – Thank you for allowing trials and storms in my live. I have learned so much from each trial and each season of waiting. Thank you for the privilege of growth through trials. I trust you. The wind seems like it is meant to destroy but I know it is really meant to cause me to fly higher. I’ll fly high with you my Father. I love you!