“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 40:31
“Flapping is Flying too!” This was a title of a sermon I heard when I was a young lead pastor in the midst of a very hard and difficult season. At this point in my ministry I did not have much confidence. I thought for sure my destiny was to flop not fly.
I have heard a lot of sermons in my life and I wish I could tell you I remember most, but that just is not the case. Like you, we have heard messages that inspired us in the moment, but then quickly faded into the background of our busy and chaotic lives. However, there are those messages or at least points or themes of messages that stick to our spiritual ribs. Like that meal you ate that made a memory from its flavor or the presentation that facilitated the ambiance of the meal. It made an impression. “Flapping is Flying Too!” is one of those messages.
The point of the message was flapping, though not as graceful or as effective as flying is still a form of flying. It counts! Some synonyms for flapping are beat, flutter, waggle, thrash. None of these words describe grace in motion, power or authority. Sounds more like survival. But when you look at some of the definitions to flapping you see something like when a bird is getting ready to fly. I like this and I believe that is why God put Isaiah 40:31 in the Bible. We need the hope that even when we feel not very dominant or graceful in our walk, it doesn’t mean we are destined to flop. Flapping is the beginning of soaring, not flopping.
What I see in our current culture, from media and others, that seem to have the loudest voice right now, is the message of flopping not flying. It is like there is a celebration of bad or divisive news. This can wear on a society that tires from all of the negativity. The enemy knows this and that is why I believe he has unleashed an all-out war of Negative Nancy’s, Bully Bobs, Critical Curt’s or the relevant term of the day, “Karen’s” on our nation. (If your name is Nancy, Bob, Curt or Karen, please do not take offense. This is not aimed at you unless the Holy Spirit is doing something. That’s between you and Him. Our battle is not against flesh and blood according to scripture, so Bob, chill out.) If you are struggling to see something positive in your circumstances, take notice. That could be what is keeping your wings from moving up and down.
When we are in our seasons of waiting, struggling or just plain getting our teeth kicked in by life, remember, you are destined to fly not flop. Get Isaiah 40:31 in your spirit. Hope in the Lord! Do not give in to the negativity. Remind the enemy of your source – God! Keep flapping! Don’t worry about style points. Just keep moving in God’s direction. Get your strength renewed and before long you will soar with grace in motion, authority, and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Click on the link below for an encouraging song that my kids recorded a while back. It is a great reminder of what God is doing in these seasons of struggle and wait.
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