Eagles’ wings
The devotions for the coming week are taken from Lutheran Tract Mission’s 2026 Lenten devotional, ‘Hope for Our Future’. Written by Anne Hansen, Lutheran Tract Mission’s Tract Development Officer, the devotions focus on how our futures and hopes are assured in Jesus Christ. The Lenten devotional is available here. It can be downloaded, printed or used as a digital flipbook.
by Anne Hansen
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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).
Read Isaiah 40:1–8,28–31
In January 1991, I left Australia to join a Lutheran Youth Encounter team out of Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. I had no idea what that would entail. It was a journey of faith. Looking back, I realise how incredibly unprepared I was for this ministry. Training was to be held in the Black Hills of South Dakota (camping) for two weeks, but as I left Australia early, I missed all the correspondence on what to bring. I didn’t have a sleeping bag, pillow or towel – just me, my clothes, my guitar and my flute.
As part of the training in South Dakota, we were required to spend 24 hours in solitude in the bush, away from other people and tents, with just a sleeping bag, food and a Bible. I was rather concerned, not knowing if there were bears or mountain lions.
Anyway, off I went – just me! I hiked to a hill above the camp – I could just see it through the trees; it was at a point called Eagles’ Nest. There, I lay my sleeping bag on the ground and sat on it. Silence can be very loud. Well, I thought, let’s see what God has to say to me, so I just closed my eyes and opened my Bible, and it came to Isaiah 40. That day, these verses spoke to me and gave me comfort. The word of God is living, and the Bible says different things to me each time I open it. As I was reading the above verse, Isaiah 40:31, I looked up, and an eagle was soaring above me.
I truly felt God’s presence and left all my fears of bears and mountain lions with God. To show me his presence, when I awoke the next morning, there was a small deer one metre from where I lay. That time of solitude taught me so much about placing my hope and trust in a loving God. I pray that you also can experience this strength and comfort. Open your Bible and have it speak to you.
Put your hope in God and feel yourself soar on eagles’ wings!
In you, Lord, I put my trust. In you, I hope, and this gives me strength for each day. Help me read your word regularly and allow myself the space and time to comprehend what you are saying. Amen.
Anne Hansen has worked as the Lutheran Tract Mission Development Officer for almost 20 years. She lives in Noosa, Queensland, with her husband Mark (a pastor). She enjoys leading Know Your Bible (KYB) and Mainly Music. For relaxation, she loves walking, reading, gardening and playing pickleball.
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