Above the Wind: The Eagle

August 14, 2026 

Opening Prayer

Holy Spirit, breathe on these Scriptures as they are read. Make familiar words fresh, and new words clear. Stir faith, awaken hope, and lead us into the truth that sets us free. Amen.

Scripture

Isaiah 40:31

"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." 

Reflection

Sometimes being tired goes way beyond just needing a good night’s sleep. It’s that deep-down kind of tired—the kind that gets into your soul. Soul fatigue it is often called. You keep going, you keep doing what needs to be done, but inside, you know and feel that you are running on empty.

Isaiah 40 doesn't ignore this reality; it acknowledges that even the young and vibrant stumble and grow weary. But God offers a radical alternative to "soul fatigue" through a vivid image from creation: the soaring eagle.
You my have noticed that smaller birds have to flap their wings like crazy just to stay off the ground. If an eagle tried doing that over long distances, it would collapse from total exhaustion. Instead, eagles ride "thermals—invisible pockets of warm, rising air that effortlessly push them thousands of feet up without the extra workout." And when a rough storm rolls in, small birds run for cover, but the eagle just locks its wings and lets those wild winds shoot it above the clouds.

I believe that is pretty much what it looks like to "wait on the Lord."

As I see it, Isaiah 40 reminds us that when we try to muscle our way through life on our own strength, it’s like flapping our wings as hard as we can while flying straight into the crazy winds of a storm. Eventually, we just wear ourselves out, were not made to run on our own strength forever. We need God to renew us and give us the strength to keep going.

Waiting on God isn't a call to just do nothing; it is about making a intentional choice to surrender. It’s opening up our wings and letting the Holy Spirit do the heavy lifting. When we do this and put our trust in God:

• We exchange your limited human reserves for His infinite power.

• We stop fighting the storm in your own strength and allow God to use the trial to lift your perspective higher.

• We learn that spiritual strength isn't about working harder—it's about depending deeper.

Prayer

Lord, I am weary from trying to flap my wings in my own strength. I surrender my striving, my anxiety, and my need to control outcomes today. I open my heart to You. Catch me in the updraft of Your grace, lift me above my current storm, and renew what has been depleted inside me. Teach me how to rest in Your power. Amen.

Application

Identify the area where you feel most exhausted right now. Practice the eagle's posture:

• Stop the Frantic Motion: Step away from the problem for 5 minutes and cease trying to force a solution.

• Lock Your Wings: Declare aloud: "Lord, I cannot carry this in my own strength, but I trust You to lift me."

• Ride the Updraft: Focus your attention on God's character rather than the storm in front of you.