Three Gifts

“Those who wait for 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.” - Isaiah 40: 31

Does God really care when we are beaten down? The people of Israel didn’t think so. They were convinced that God was detached from the struggles and heartaches of life. They said, “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God” (40:27). Isaiah tells them (and us) that God not only cares, but supplies three wonderful gifts for all who put their trust in God.

They who wait for the Lord...

Shall mount up with wings like eagles - This is the gift of Ecstasy. The times in our lives filled with sheer joy. It’s what we feel when we hold a newborn baby, when we dance with abandon at weddings, when we view a spectacular sunset. What a gift! But when we’re sitting at the bedside of a loved one who is ill, ecstasy is impossible. It’s a generous gift, but not the greatest.

Shall run and not be weary - This is the gift of Energy. It’s the ability to meet the pressing needs around us. We see the gift in our first responders and firefighters who respond to every emergency. We see the gift in our communities when we visit the sick, send meals, write to prisoners, provide a haven for people frazzled by life. What a gift! But when we’re sitting at the bedside of a loved one and there’s nothing left to do but grieve, we have no energy. It’s a generous gift, but not the greatest.

Shall walk and not faint - This is the gift of Endurance. It is the greatest gift. It is the ability to put one foot in front of the other. It’s the ability to get up in the morning, after spending the night in despair, alone. Endurance gives us the power we need to continue despite weakness and sorrow. It is the gift we most need during a pandemic, when even small decisions seem fraught with peril. It is the gift we most need when we are dealing with crises both locally and nationally. It is the gift we need to hold onto when our strength is depleted.

Those who wait for the Lord, who trust in God, are given three gifts, Ecstasy, Energy and Endurance. We give thanks for the times of sheer joy, for the gift of boundless energy and for the gift which helps us through the roughest times, endurance!

Pastor Dawn Volpe
Ephraim Moravian
 


 

Comments

Popular Posts