Soar, Not Plod

I am studying Isaiah in Bible Study Fellowship this year. It has been so good for me to have regular time to read Scripture and think through what it says and what that means for my life. Sometimes however, I focus more on getting the questions answered for our group discussion than on what God wants me to do or how to apply these things to my own daily life. But two weeks ago (yes, it's taken me that long to find time to write these thoughts) there were some incredibly insightful comments shared during our discussion that included 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."

One woman mentioned how she had been praying this to be true in her own life and it struck me -- "Of course!" I should be praying this passage of Scripture for myself (and Erich) as we are weary from day to day activities and caring for a newborn who doesn't sleep in the evening. I couldn't believe I hadn't thought of it myself as I read through that familiar passage. But I began applying that insight to my life and I would lift up a brief prayer when I was tired or weary or impatient with my children or the never-ending, oft-repeated chores of the household. And I prayed the Scripture, inserting my name in place of "they" in the last three lines. This was the power of those prayers: as I began to accept the truth of them, that God will uphold me, refresh me and energize me when I come to Him.

These verses and that prayer became even more refreshing and powerful as I reflected on another insight shared by a woman who said, "I want to soar, not plod!" Oh, how true that is for all of us! And how easy it is to plod, instead of soar. The imagery here is so majestic -- to soar like the eagles! It makes me think of lofty heights to be attained, great things to be accomplished, inspiring goals to be reached. God will uphold us as we seek to do that. But that one comment also changed my whole attitude about my day to day. I'm not attaining great heights of business deals, an inspiring sermon to preach, a cure for a disease, the next big ad campaign. But even as I unload the day's clean dishes, sort or fold laundry, change ANOTHER diaper, muster the energy for ANOTHER round of hide and seek -- even in these mundane things God will enable me to SOAR, not plod. Instead of trudging through my day, I am able now to see it in the majestic terms of the eagle. It doesn't have to be drudgery just because one day seems to roll unchanging into the next. And when it feels that way, God will renew my strength and keep me from growing faint when I wait and hope in Him and ask for his never-ending strength.

And it is THAT power, THAT hope, which helps me to SOAR!