Lifted by Grace

“But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” – Isaiah 40:31 (NLT)

Recently, while taking the ferry from Newport, RI over to Block Island, we found ourselves watching the seagulls that hovered above the water. They weren’t in a hurry. They weren’t straining. They simply rode the warm currents rising off the ocean. Every so often one would dip toward the surface, snatch a bit of food, and with just a few steady, deliberate strokes of its wings, climb right back to its original height. Then it would settle again into the invisible lift beneath it. 

We watched this pattern repeat again and again — rise, dip, rise — and the birds never seemed to tire, moving with a kind of effortless grace. 

Isaiah’s promise is not about becoming tireless by sheer effort. It’s about discovering a strength that comes from beyond us — a divine lift that carries us when our own energy runs thin. The birds over the water weren’t relying on constant flapping; they were relying on the currents beneath them. Their strength was not self‑generated but received.

That is the life of trust. We rise when God lifts us. We dip into the routines and responsibilities of the day. And with just a few intentional movements — a prayer, a moment of surrender, a breath of Scripture — we find ourselves rising again from that place, borne up by God’s grace rather than our own effort. Trust doesn’t eliminate the dips; it ensures we are not left to climb on our own. God’s strength meets us, carries us, and renews us so that we can soar, run, and walk without losing heart.

Gracious God, lift us today with the strength only you can give. When we dip into the demands and worries of life, help us rise again by your Spirit’s steady grace. Teach us to trust the currents of your love more than our own striving, and renew us so that we may walk faithfully, run hopefully, and soar with the quiet confidence that you are carrying us. Amen.

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Tim