Eagles are such majestic birds, sometimes with a wingspan of up to eight feet. They can hit 70-80 mph when they mean business, and glide at a steady 40. Eagles have been tracked at 20,000 feet over the Rocky Mountains — so high the air becomes thin, and the ground is a distant memory. When the Bible mentions eagles, they show up as a picture of strength, freedom, and renewal.

(Isaiah 40:29-31 NKJV) He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

The word translated “wait” there doesn't mean sitting in a waiting room staring at the ceiling. It means to hope in, to look forward with confidence to something good. It is active and expectant. Like when Jasmine, our dog, watches us eat supper, absolutely certain something good is soon coming her way. That is the posture Isaiah is describing.

Eagles don't start out soaring. I have heard that when they are young, the parents line the nest with fur and feathers to keep the little ones comfortable. They hunt and bring food right to them. Everything is provided for them and little effort is required. But as the eaglets grow, the parents start pulling the soft lining out. They expose the sticks underneath. They move the food to a branch outside the nest, then farther and farther away. The delays between meals stretch longer each day. It feels like things are getting worse. What is actually happening is the parents are preparing them to fly.

Sometimes the Lord works the same way. The comfortable season ends, and you cannot figure out why things feel harder. The nest got uncomfortable on purpose.

Then there are crows.

A smaller bird who is loud and relentless. Crows are known to mob eagles — dive-bombing them, stealing food right out of their nests, making as much noise as possible. They are not a real threat to the eagle. More of a nuisance, but a persistent one.

A single crow is annoying. A group of them is a whole different problem. They call it a murder of crows, and if you have ever stood under a tree full of them at dusk, you understand why. It is not just loud, but oppressive. The squawking gets inside your head.

I have worked around so many squawking crows. We all know some. People who seem to have nothing better to do than pick apart what you are doing, undercut your peace, or just make noise in your direction. You find them in traffic, and in the break room. Sometimes at the family dinner table. They are not necessarily dangerous. But they are spiritually draining, and if you let them, they will pull you right down to their level and keep you there.

When the eagle has had enough of the crows, it doesn't argue or fight back. It doesn't hold a meeting about the crows. It simply spreads those giant wings and climbs. The crow can only reach about a thousand feet, but the eagle soars to 10,000 and up where the air is clean and quiet and the noise below fades to nothing. Where the crows cannot follow. The harassment doesn't stop because the crows gave up. It stops because the eagle climbed above them.

That is when the peace comes.

We need to rise above the squawking mob to a place that is more peaceful and quiet. It is nearly impossible to hear from the Lord when your head is full of noise. Constant chaos will crowd out that gentle whisper every time. The peace of God doesn't come down to where the crows are. We have to climb up to where He is. That is what Jesus did. He withdrew from the noise:

(Mark 1:35 NKJV)  Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.

Ten minutes spent with the LORD before the squawking starts can make all the difference in your day. 

Eagles don't have to flap hard to gain altitude. They ride the thermals — rising columns of warm air — and they spread their wings and let the air currents carry them up. The Holy Spirit works the same way. You don't have to manufacture altitude through sheer effort and willpower. We spread our wings through prayer, worship music, reading or listening to His Word, and He lifts us higher. That is what waiting on the Lord actually looks like. 

(Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

You can have real peace, but it is often found at a higher altitude. We need to focus on the LORD and refuse to come back down to argue with the crows. So climb higher, and let the crows squawk at the empty space where you used to be.

You can pray this with me if you like:

Prayer

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for all that You do for me. Please draw my heart to You and help me focus on the right things. Make what is important to You, important to me. Forgive me for the things I do wrong and help me live a life pleasing to You. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!