An eagle’s growth can be quite cruel. Consider for a moment a young eaglet. For it to learn to hover, the mother will literally push it over a cliff’s edge, once its feathers are full and developed. While it is falling, the eaglet will exhaust every amount of strength just to survive. Though painful, as well as tiring, the eaglet will do just that –fly.

However, in teaching it to soar, the mother eagle will break its wings and again, pushing it over the cliff. This time, the eaglet will suffer more unbearable pain than it did prior. Yet, no matter how painful, it will flap its broken wings, or die. The result is that this majestic bird will be able to not only hover, but soar high in the blue skies.

Likewise, I believe we will experience much of the same as a young eaglet does. You see, difficulties are exactly what God meticulously arranges for the training and maturing of our faith.

The first time I read the above saga of a baby eaglet, I could not read the prophet Isaiah’s words the same – *“For those who wait on 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).

You see, too often we do not see the value of adversities, let alone see them as stepping-stones to our Spiritual development. Thus, we tend to close off our hearts, or even more destructive, callous them, fearing the inevitable. For we want peace, ease, comfort; not difficulty, hardship, or calamity.

Now listen, this is foolish thinking, not the mindset God wants us to have. James tells us, *“For we know that when our faith is tested, our endurance has a chance to grow”* (James 1:3).

Paul writes, *“We continue to shout our praise, even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged”* (Romans 5:4).

Seventeenth century cleric/writer Charles Caleb Colton once stated, “Times of great calamity and confusion have ever been productive of the greatest minds. The purest ore is produced from the hottest furnace, and the brightest thunderbolt comes from the darkest storm.”

So, the next time you feel like you are hanging from one of life’s cliff edges, maybe it is time for you to let go. For just maybe you, too, can fly.

**QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION**

1. What adversity are you facing today?

2. What steps will you take to ensure your mindset is on God and His love for you?

3. How can you show others the goodness of God in the midst of your troubles?

*God, Thank you for using the difficult times in my life to create something beautiful. Help me to trust You in the process. Amen.*