To Soar or not to Soar by Pastor Evelyn Rodriguez

 

Blessings my Brave Hearted Steppers,

“To be or not to be, that is the question.” This quote is from William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet. In this speech, Hamlet contemplates the nature of existence and the idea of life and death, reflecting on the struggles and uncertainties life brings us. 

As I contemplated this blog and its theme, I wanted to start with a quote to express the same ideas as Shakespeare’s quote only it goes like this “To Soar or not to Soar, that is the question."

  All of us, at one point or another, will have to make this choice. Will I soar and fulfill the promise that God has given to each one of us in His word, or will we not soar and settle as if we were defeated and helpless people and have no hope at all, and never enjoy the fullness of His greatness in our lives? 

To soar means more than to fly; it means to rise swiftly, to feel the wind slipping below you as you ride it higher, higher, higher. Flying is just moving through the air. Soaring, though, suggests exhilaration, even joy.

        I love this meaning because the outcome is exhilaration and joy, a sense of not only reaching new heights but one of ease and total fulfillment. So, in life, we don’t want to just go higher in God, that’s what the people wanted to do when they built the tower of Babel in Genesis 11 for selfish reasons. We want to soar in knowing our Creator, in experiencing all the promises that were established before the foundation of the world for each in every one of us. 

Isaiah 40:31 says “They shall mount up with wings as eagles.” This is a comparison, to illustrate how those who have hope in the Lord will renew their strength and rise above the challenges of life. 

Eagles are known for their majestic soaring, but there are several reasons why eagles might struggle to soar as do we. See an eagle is destined to live for more than 70 years and so are we, but the struggles hinder and steal the joy for the purpose it was created to enjoy. 

Here are a few things that hinder its life:

1. Injury or illness: God only knows that many of us when we have been injured in life, or when illness knocks at our door, it sucks the wind out of us. It could be a family member or a friend it really doesn’t matter because it makes you question or even ask yourself is God with me? I have had lots of bad news these last four years, two deaths in the family, cancer in the family, and financial loss in the family. Should I go on? You get the picture. It really could rob your joy and stop you from seeking the promises that are treasures in God for you.

2. Feather Molt: Eagles undergo a molting process where they shed old feathers and grow new ones. During this time, they have gaps in their feathers, which affects their ability to soar. Hebrews 12:1-3 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down"…. Life has a way of weighing us down, the children that we love so much, the job and the hustle and tussle of every day take a toll on you, and it stops you from soaring, from reaching your potential. The eagle has to pluck its wing, even if it hurts, the beauty of this process is that it goes to the highest peak of the mountain, alone and takes off the weight that weighs it down. There have been many times that I have had to make drastic choices if I was to continue my journey in life and see the promises of God manifest as it has taken me to soar. 

3. Environmental factors: For the eagle to soar it needs the right environment, if it’s not it can’t soar with ease, these elements hinder its potential to Soar: torrential rain, strong winds, extreme heat, and so on. Many of us live in a hostile environment, maybe it’s your home, your job, or even your church.  These hostel elements have made it almost impossible for you to continue believing the promise of God, the word of God. Jeremiah 29:11 (NCV) “I say this because I know what I am planning for you,” says the Lord. “I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future."  You see, our environment can sometimes hinder us from seeing the goodness of God. 

4. Age and Physical Condition: With the older eagles and poor physical condition one finds it a struggle to Soar. They say you should age gracefully, well it doesn’t always feel very graceful, but the truth is we will all age. It is here that we truly need to trust God. Isaiah 46:4 says (CBS) “I will be the same until your old age, and I will bear you up when you turn gray. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will bear and rescue you” and Psalm 73:26 “Though my flesh and my heart fail, God is the rock of my heart, my portion forever." 

5. Human interference: Human activities, such as habitat destruction, pollution, and disturbances, can impact an eagle’s ability to soar. Wow, wow, this is not only true of an eagle but how many of us when we are going deeper and soaring in God, seeking his presence, hearing His voice, advancing in His Kingdom start to face opposition from other humans. Many of us have stopped soaring when backbiters rise and speak lies about us or pollute those around us and cause division among our brothers and sisters. Sometimes the places we deem safe are no longer our resting place. People who don’t understand you or who you belong to will always have a way of stopping you from Soaring to your Promises in God. That’s why being in an intimate relationship with God will keep you safe and secure while you are Soaring in the promises of God. 

Romans 8:31 “If God is for us, who can be against us?” This is a rhetorical question from the Bible. This verse is a culmination of the promises of God and serves as a reminder that God is on our side. 

For every obstacle in life, there is a promise in God's Word. If you have been hindered by struggles and uncertainties of life and are having a hard time soaring, I recommend you read and meditate on the theme for the Brave Hearted, because you have to be Brave to overcome all of these obstacles. 

Isaiah 40:31 (AMP) “But those who wait for the Lord (who expect, look for and hope in Him) will gain new strength and renew their power; they will lift up their wings (and rise up close to God) like eagles (rising toward the sun); they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not grow tired."

And if you can’t trust yourself to rise and soar, let God do it again in you Exodus 19:4 “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles wings and brought you to myself."

To soar or not to soar, the decision is yours today, for His promises remain alive and true. 

As He has done before, so He can do again.

God Bless,
Pastor Evelyn Rodriguez
Iglesia De Dios of Torrington, CT 

*We hope you enjoy your weekend! Just a quick heads-up: we’ll be back with fresh, exciting content on Monday, July 22, 2024. Make sure to mark your calendars and check back in for the latest Brave Quotes, Life Applications, Blog Posts, etc. You won’t want to miss it! Many Blessings!*