To Fly Again

by Dotty Schmitt

Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. — Isaiah 40:31

Can you see the stately, lone eagle sitting quietly in the cleft of the rock? As the right wind begins to blow, this majestic bird spreads its wings and slowly mounts into the heavens with great ease and serenity. What a magnificent picture the Holy Spirit paints for us to illustrate what happens within us as we "wait upon the Lord."

The word wait can be defined in two ways, both of which are helpful in clarifying for us what it means to "wait upon the Lord." The English dictionary tells us that to wait is to remain stationary in readiness and expectation. In Hebrew, the word wait means to bind together by twisting and intertwining. The word connotes the concept of becoming fully absorbed as one strand of thread does with another in the process of braiding.

What actually happens as we wait that so renews our strength? Essentially, waiting involves our being still (stationary) in the presence of the Lord with a heart full of expectation to hear His voice and with a readiness to obey it.

"Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10a) is a crucial word being spoken to our generation in this hour. We live in a very noisy, loud, and hurried society. Radios, televisions, and tape players have become a part of our normal, everyday routine. We are bombarded on every side by loud music, shrill voices, and discordant noises emerging from our mechanized society. Into the midst of all this draining whir of noise is also added the hectic activity of very busy churches — saints coming and going, busily doing and talking. Little wonder that at times we find ourselves depleted and worn out!

Into the midst of all this noise comes the thunder of His quiet whisper into our hearts: "The Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before Him" (Habakkuk 2:20). We are beginning to learn that what sleep is to the body in producing renewal and rejuvenation to every physical cell, so silence is to the soul. Without sleep the body will deteriorate; without silence the soul will become dull, distracted, and superficial.

Have you ever tried to go on a fast from words? This often involves setting aside some time when you can be alone in a silent place — a place free from the distractions of telephone and other modern conveniences that often add additional noise factors to our lives. Once you have achieved coming into a place of outward silence, you will perhaps find that the inward noises shout even more loudly to be heard. Your thoughts may run uncontrollably and distractedly from one subject to another; emotions scream for attention and recognition. You may be tempted to escape from these inward noises by turning on other louder sounds — even Christian sounds. Resist the temptation! As we honestly recognize the turmoil and clatter happening within the realm of our thought and emotional lives, we invite the Lord into these "inward parts" to bring about His order and peace.

How liberating it is to candidly share with the Lord everything we're thinking and feeling. David calls this "pouring out his soul" to the Lord. Once it is all out, either verbally or in the form of a letter to the Lord, we can then invite His perspective on the various issues. This may involve repentance for wrong thoughts and attitudes. It may involve simply laughing at the absurdities of our own fears and anxieties now that they are out in the open. It may also involve a deep cleansing of old or new wounds and a warm healing that comes from experiencing His love, understanding, and acceptance.

Once there is a peace and quiet within, we can experience what it means to 'wait upon the Lord." As we become quiet and still before Him, we enter into a realm of adoration and worship that transcends mere words. We begin to hear His voice in the depths of our spirits. The hearing of His voice, the deep communing of His Spirit with ours, brings replenishment and a renewing to our souls. We begin to so enjoy our union with Him that, of a truth, His life is indeed ours. We live because He lives. And as we continue to cultivate a life-style of yielded waiting in the warmth of His love, we gain new strength and we mount up with wings like eagles – and in the Spirit we fly again!