Isaiah 40:28-31

As I sat pondering some very serious “issues” in my life it seemed as though the questions in my mind flew around me in a frenzy. Unfortunately no answers followed and very quickly a weariness that was almost painful set in. I found myself plummeting into a dark hole where I sat empty-eyed. It seemed like one moment I was flying high and the next I came in for a crash landing.

I tried to think of ways to move out and move up but the weariness washed over me again and again till finally all of my strength was gone. Fear tried to befriend me but faith prevailed as I retained my hope in The Lord. It is easy to have hope when everything is smooth sailing. It is a challenge when we find that our life is amuck.

For quite some time my mind was too tired to even form a thought but eventually my mental attention was turned to an illustration about the eagle and immediately I knew what I needed to do.

Eagles are graceful creatures known to many as the king of birds. Their magnificent qualities are endless and they are a wonder to behold. They soar high above the storm clouds able to spot them coming for miles. Still, eventually over time their feathers become dry and damaged. They are weakened by their flights so they must find a place to go so they can once again regain their strength.

They usually end up down on the ground somewhere as they have lost the strength needed to fly. There they begin a molting process. They pluck the dried useless feathers from their wings one by one. It is a time that they become very vulnerable to predators. Once the feathers are gone they cannot fly.

After a period of time new feathers begin to grow. Soon they are ready to fly again with the same splendor as before. Not only have they survived being in a very low place, they have managed to not become prey to their predators. They have new strength, which allows them to soar once more.

Suddenly it dawned on me that just like the eagle…it was time for me to pluck. I was in a low place and needed God to restore if I was ever to soar again. One by one I removed the damaged things that had hindered my flight. Comments that hurt, words that condemned, failures, disappointments, physical & emotional pain all needed to be plucked from my life. They had weighted me down not allowing me to fly any more. There was pain as I plucked each of these things from my heart. Being weary did not help and at times I felt as though I would rip apart. When the process was done I sat quietly, hearing but refusing to believe the voices of the enemy. No way…I refused to be his prey.

The longer I was still the more strength I gained. It did not come as quickly as I would have liked but little by little it came to me just as God’s Word promised. I found myself ready to get up and go to higher ground. Not only had He renewed my ability to go “higher in Him” He gave me strength to soar above the storms once more.

If you feel that your strength is gone and your life is running amuck. Try doing what the eagle does and find a quiet place to pluck. 

©2001 Melinda Lancaster

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