Looks Better From Up Here
“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)
This is probably one of the most favorite of the Old Testament passages. All of us have drawn strength from it at one time or another because it gives so much.
Through Isaiah the prophet, God is comforting His people. The nation had been through so much – trial after trial, rebellion after rebellion, judgement after judgement. In their eyes, they were beaten and could not lift up their heads. What made it worse was that they had brought it upon themselves. Many of them had lost their faith in God and placed it in the power and might of men or false gods. They had grown weak and weary.
Isaiah gives them a completely different perspective; “Soar with eagles.” What was he speaking of? An eagle is known for his speed and accuracy in flight. Could it be that? But the eagle is also known for flying high. Flying high in the sky will allow you to see what you could never see before.
I love to fly in jet airplanes. Whenever possible, I request a window seat. While others around me are reading their magazines, working on their business deals, or perhaps doing their needlework, I’m glued to the window. Things look so different from up there. Standing on the ground, you can only see those things around you that are in your line of vision. It’s hard to get a real perspective of where the town is or how the hills lay. But up in the air the height lets you take it all in.
God told His people to trust Him. “Trust me,” He said, “and I’ll let you see what life is all about.” The people could run and not grow weary because they could see how long the track was and know that the race would soon be over. They could walk and faint not because they could know how far they had to go.
Hope and trust in God gives us a whole different perspective. By trusting Him, I can once again know where I’m going. I will begin to see the course. I’ll know where the hills and the valleys are. I’ll be able to see how to get around the mountains that are in my path.
Everything looks better from higher up. Paul said, “…set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not earthly things.” (Col. 3:1-2).
If we will look up, seek our help from above, and trust and hope in the giver of all hope, He will lift us up to see what we never thought imaginable. Hey, things do look better from up here!