Are You Weary or Soaring?

On a trip to the Oregon coast, my husband and I watched as a bald eagle swooped down, snatched a young bird from a cliff, and carried it off in his talons. As symbols of strength, freedom, and victory, eagles are powerful both in flight and with their vision. They fly at impressive heights and wait patiently for their prey. They also have excellent eyesight and focus with clarity.

Perhaps the imagery of power, patience, and focus is expressed in the following Scripture.

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.
Isaiah 40:31, NIV

The New King James version reads, wait on the Lord. This is not a passive waiting but a faith-filled expectancy as we hope in Christ and what He is doing in our lives.

As we wait on the Lord and pray for Him to move in our situation, He renews our strength. That’s one way we grow in our faith walk with Christ.

Eagles soar without using much energy. They don’t tire or grow weary easily. If we keep our focus on Jesus, and what He endured for us, we won’t give up either.

Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners,
so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Hebrews 12:3, NIV

Jesus knows the obstacles we meet each day. He knows what’s happening around us and understands our turmoil, angst, and impatience. He gives us strength to overcome every obstacle in our path.

Covid-19 may have disrupted our lives and normalcy and caused us to feel perplexed and struck down. But according to 2 Corinthians 4:8-10, we are not crushed, in despair, abandoned, or destroyed when we are in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18, NIV states—

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting
away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen,
but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary,
but what is unseen is eternal.

I believe Paul was saying we shouldn’t give up or give in to discouragement, for our spirit is being renewed each day. In the grand scheme of things, our troubles here are temporary, but our hope in Christ and eternal life are so much greater. As we place our hope and faith in Him, may we eagerly await our future joy together.

We can soar on eagle’s wings if we stay focused on Christ.

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Title photo by Sean McGee - Unsplash

Photos below by LuAnn K. Edwards.
Mama bird was not happy with Mr. Eagle!

Faith Conquers Fear

This past week my husband, Kenn, and I traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, for the Gideons International Convention. We met new friends, visited with old friends, partook of amazing worship, listened to powerful testimonies, and enjoyed God’s Word. During this inspirational time of worship, fear attacked. But faith conquers fear.

On Wednesday, I got stuck in an elevator after the housekeeper placed her arms inside to keep the doors from closing. She asked me a question and walked away. The doors remained open six inches which caused the alarm to sound. I punched the button on the panel to open the door—nothing. When I pressed the close button, still nothing. I tried the lobby and our floor’s button with no results. The doors wouldn’t budge when I stuck my arms in between them to pry them open. My heart rate intensified. After what seemed like hours (two minutes), the housekeeper returned and pried the doors open from the outside. After she forced them open, they closed on their own, and I was on my way to the lobby. Everything was fine.

Rarely do I remember dreams, but that night I had an eerie one. Kenn and I stood inside a store. I moved away from him and walked outdoors. The parking lot was dark and vacant except for two cars, and neither belonged to us. I turned to go back inside to find my husband, but the store was empty. Not only of people but of everything. The lights were bright inside, and the sliding doors were open six inches. But nothing remained in the store.

When I awoke, I determined everything wasn’t fine. Fear tried to take hold of me. I said out loud, “I will not give in to fear,” and I quoted 2 Timothy 1:7.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love
and of a sound mind (NKJV).

On Thursday night, fear again attacked my dreams. This time, someone knocked on my hotel room door. I opened the door to a woman and asked her in a panicked voice, “Where’s Kenn?”

Again, I repeated 2 Timothy 1:7. Every time I remembered either dream, I repeated this verse because Scripture wields power and builds our faith. I took fearful thoughts captive and overcame them with the Word of God.

Friday evening after a banquet, Kenn’s supervisor, Rodney, requested his help, and I returned to our room. Forty-five minutes later, I received a call from Rodney. “LuAnn. Kenn had an accident. The freight elevator doors smashed his hand. He passed out, and his hand is swollen, but he’s okay. You should come down here.” I grabbed my purse in case we’d need to make a trip to the hospital and took the elevator.

On my way, fear spoke. “He’s worse than what Rodney told you. Remember your dreams?”

I once again declared God’s Word and repeated, “I will not give in to fear.”

Kenn sat in a chair with beads of sweat on his forehead. His hand was under a plastic bag filled with ice. He looked up at me and said, “I’m okay. Don’t worry.” Two EMTs arrived a few minutes later with a gurney, took his vitals, and recommended he visit the emergency room for x-rays. They offered him a ride, but he chose to bypass the ambulance. We spent the next three hours at an ER in downtown Atlanta. We returned to the hotel around 3:00 a.m.

I’m grateful there were no broken bones and that the weird dreams stopped.

Fear comes from the enemy. Our faith in God combats it. When fear speaks, refuse to listen. Speak the Word of God, and keep your focus on Christ. Trust in Him and His Word.

For I hold you by your right hand—I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, “Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you” (Isaiah 41:13 NLT).