Rise Up…With Heavenly Strength

Hello Friends,

Well… how was your first full week of summer? Were you able to go on adventures or make discoveries? Did you go swimming? Did you go on a vacation? Did you spend time with your friends? Or did you stay inside since it was sooooooo hot? I don’t know about you, but I like being outside, but last week was so hot that I wanted to stay inside where the air was cool. (However, I did spend most of my time outside.) Summer is here–both seasonally and weather-wise! Please stay safe, drink plenty of water, and take a lot of breaks if you have to be outside.

Now that summer is here, many people are thinking about vacations. Some people will travel far, some will stay close, some will take week long vacations, some will take weekend vacations, some will drive, and some will fly. When it comes to summer vacations the spectrum is wide and deep meaning that vacations can differ from family to family. And so, in thinking about vacations, I have to ask, “Have you over flown in a plane before?”

Our lesson today focuses on flying with heavenly strength. This strength doesn’t come from the wings of a plane though but from the wings of a bird. Toward the end of the Prophet Isaiah’s writings, we read that we can mount on the wings of eagles and fly. This story is an inspiring passage, especially to anyone who struggles or works hard in any sense. This lesson focuses on the hope of Christ and the beautiful promises of God granted to all who love and serve Him. Let’s explore our “flight” with Isaiah…

For starters, Isaiah was a prophet around the 8th-6th Century BCE–so almost 800-600 years before Jesus was born. Many parts of his messages discussed the coming Messiah, and a lot them spoke hopefully about the future when the Messiah would come to rescue his people. The passage we are going to look at, is no exception. For starters, Isaiah 40:21-22 shares, “ Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded? He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in.“

From these verses we need to ask, “Who is in charge of the universe?” Well, if you have been in Sunday School for any length of time, that should be a “duh” answer—it’s God, of course! But not only is He in charge. He has always been and will always be in command. He is enthroned, and we are like bugs compared to His majesty–small in something ginormous! Now, that might sound a little scary, and it could be intimidating…but the important element to consider is that this is a message of hope. Isaiah promises a restoration to the people of Israel, and assures them that they can take heart in God’s great goodness and glory.

Isaiah continues: “He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff” (Isaiah 40:23-24). What Isaiah is basically telling us is that sometimes we think that we can solve problems on our own, or we create idols and boast of what we think we can do. But our knowledge of anything, especially God, is quite small. There is none like Him! We need God to help us gt through those tough times.

Isaiah continues: “To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, ‘My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God’?” (Isaiah 40:25-27). God has no equal; no substitute, unlike your teachers! God has already done everything in the universe. God and God alone is THE Holy One. Have you ever looked up at night while camping or out in the country, and saw the abundance of stars in the skies? Think about it…God KNOWS those stars. They have names that He assigned, and He knows their names, as well. If He knows that much, He knows our hearts as well. This could be a somewhat scary thought….or it could be a comforting thought. All things grow old and fade away. We can easily become tired. But God grants us amazing strength. Let’s look at the final few verses…

Isaiah shares, “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. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:28-31). (This is one of my favorite sections in the book of Isaiah!!!) Wouldn’t it be awesome to run and not grow tired? Any athlete would be thrilled with that prospect…or better yet, wouldn’t it be neat to FLY, to really have wings and soar on the clouds? Well, we may not physically have these things in this life…that’s not what the verse is promising. But we do know that great things lie ahead if we rely on the Lord for strength. If He is able to put the heavens in place, count the stars, and make mountains tremble, just imagine what He can do for us!

He can give us a heavenly strength that helps us “fly” and “soar.” He can pick us up when we fall. He can find us when we are lost. He can help us walk when we don’t know where to go. He can fill our heart with love when it feels like no one likes us. He can do all these things and so much more because He is mighty and there is nothing that he cannot do. He will give you heavenly strength to face tomorrow and to follow your dreams. Are you ready to soar on eagles wings with God this summer?

Let us Pray: Dear God, we are thankful you work in our lives. We ask today that you give us the strength to look toward you in times of need so that we can learn to fly. Amen.

Your Friend, Holy Spirit!

Message Source: https://ministry-to-children.com/rise-upwith-heavenly-strength/