With Wings Like Eagles

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint. - Isaiah 40:31

God does not permit adversity for the purpose of defeating us, but for the purpose of benefiting us. This is illustrated in the benefit an eagle receives from turbulent winds.

• Turbulent winds cause the eagle to fly higher. There is tremendous lifting power in the thermal updrafts of turbulent winds. These updrafts cause the eagle to reach great heights as he soars with them.
• Turbulent winds give the eagle a larger view. The higher the eagle flies, the larger will be his perspective of the land below him. From this higher position the sharp eyes of the eagle are able to see much more.
• Turbulent winds allow the eagle to use less effort. The wings of the eagle are designed for gliding in the winds. The feather structure prevents stalling, reduces the turbulence and produces a relatively smooth ride with minimum effort - even in rough winds.
• Turbulent winds allow the eagle to stay up longer. The eagle uses winds to soar and guide for long periods of time. In the winds, the eagle first glides in long shallow circles downward and then spirals upward with a thermal updraft.
• Turbulent winds help the eagle to fly faster. Normally, the eagle flies at a speed of about 50 miles an hour. However, when he glides in wind currents, speeds of 80 to 100 miles per hour are not uncommon.