Christian Counseling Service -- Devotions

Mounting up on wings

Wednesday, December 11, 2002

Isaiah 40:25-31 & Matthew 11:28-30
Isaiah 40:25-31
25) "To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One.
26) Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
27) Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God"?
28 Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
29) He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
30) Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
31) but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will mount up on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Matthew 11:28-30
28) Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29) Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30) For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

There were times when the rains came down and the mud behind our barn was so deep a cow could get stuck in it. Occasionally, one did.

When that happened Dad got the tractor out, the one with the loader on the front, and drove it out to the barn. He drove it right up to the mud, sometimes into the mud. We strapped the cow to the loader, using a rope and harness.

Then Dad lifted the cow right up out of the mud. There was always a big "thwuck" sound as the mud sucked on the cow's legs, and then let go. The cow couldn't complain. She also couldn't thank us; she just shook herself off and went back to eating hay.

* * *

My son Marc and I climbed up out of the Grand Canyon's Havasupai Indian Reservation on a 100+ degree June day a few years ago. We started at 4:30 am, but the hike lasted till nearly noon, and by that time the heat was killing me. I stopped at every turn of a very long switchback trail that went nearly straight up the canyon face. Some of the other (younger) hikers gave me water. I soaked my handkerchief and hat over and over.

Marc had gone on ahead. He finished the trail an hour or so before I did. When I got to the top, he was there. He was smiling, and he handed me an ice-cold can of Pepsi.

I collapsed into the car we had rented, and he drove the 75 miles through the desert back to the highway. I sat in my seat, didn't move, barely breathing. Finally recuperating a little, I opened the Pepsi and drank some of it. I had never tasted anything so good, so cold, so fine. Such a little thing Marc did for me, but my spirits were lifted high. I was finished coming out of the desert on my own strength; I could let go, and let Marc carry me.

Lord, I want to completely relax in your arms ... trusting you with my doing, my being, my heart, my soul and mind ... no longer holding on but letting go, and letting you be strong. Show me how to do this again today.

Devotions Archive

Mounting up on wings

Wednesday, December 11, 2002