soaring like eagles

The way Jehovah designed eagles teaches us such a powerful lesson about endurance, trust, and the strength he provides to those who rely on him. When we count on Jehovah’s support, we really can soar on wings like eagles. He is assuring his worshippers that he'll give them the strength needed to overcome or endure any problem. I think about and draw comfort from this beautiful promise every time I see a soaring eagle!

It’s so fascinating that he made eagle wings long and broad with a big surface area. This helps them catch rising currents of warm air called thermals, which lift the bird up. Instead of constantly exhausting themselves flapping, they let those currents lift them higher and higher. Some species, like the Golden Eagle, have been spotted at over 20,000 feet — higher than many small airplanes! When they’re up high, the way they position their wings enhances airflow and enables them to glide. They can cover hundreds of miles a day while barely burning any energy. I found it so cool that eagles have a glide ratio of roughly 1:10. This means for every single foot they drop in altitude, they can glide forward 10 feet! They aren't doing all the work … they’re using the physics Jehovah built into the wind.

Sometimes in life, we feel like we’ve run out of strength to keep “flapping.” Trials, discouragement, and exhaustion can make us feel as though we can't take another step. But when we lean on Jehovah, he becomes the wind beneath our wings. If we just give him that one “foot” of effort and trust, he can carry us 10 times further than we ever could go on our own. Jehovah, who is inexhaustible (Isaiah 40:26), provides the lift we need to rise above and endure, even when we just can't flap any more.