God's Wings of Love

Photo: Soaring at Sunset by Dee Kamp

God’s Wings of Love

Sometimes the things we hold on to are often reminders of someone we love— but sometimes it goes beyond fond memories, they encourage us in our faith.

“Even youth grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;

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 40:30-31 NIV

 There is a wooden plaque with a picture mounted on it of a soaring eagle that hangs above my husband’s desk. It once belonged to his father John and handed down to Bill when he passed some years ago. On the plaque is an eagle in full flight. That alone will make a person stop and ponder the beauty and strength of this majestic bird. But it’s the words etched into this plaque from Isaiah 40:30-31 that is the real reason it is so dearly loved.

When mementoes include the Word of God it becomes more than a thing, even more than memory of a loved one— it becomes a treasure of the heart.  

 My husband’s father was a man of God with a strong faith that stayed with him even into the hard times suffering Alzheimer’s disease. The disease may have taken away his memory but not his faith and passion for God.  When possible, he was picked up from the care facility and taken the church he attended nearly seventy years.  John’s countenance changed immediately.  When the music played hymns he knew all his life he would stand up and sang with great joy and gusto. John was soaring on those wings of the eagle.

The strength that is written about in this beloved verse is not referring to one’s physical strength, but rather the inner spiritual strength that was demonstrated by John’s love of the Lord and to whom he had depended on all his life.

The joy of the Lord is our strength. No doubt, fear, adversity and even disease can prevail against the love God has for us.  God alone gives us the lift to rise and soar above our circumstances and adversities —it’s God’s wings of love which carry us above and beyond it all.

“God’s Wings of Love” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© July 1, 2013