Soaring Again: Finding Personal Renewal in the Eagle's Way
From Dust to Eternity - Psalm 103 - Part 9: So That Your Youth is Renewed Like the Eagle's
Let’s step back from Psalm 103 for a moment. We have studied only five verses so far, but we have seen the uniqueness of this psalm. David is not speaking to God or praying to God. He is, as we noted, having a conversation with himself. He is talking to himself about God’s benefits that have come into his life. Today, we might call these benefits perquisites or the perks included when someone trusts God.
Make a list of them. David did. He recited them as if he were staring at himself in a mirror. What are the perks? Here they are:
Forgiveness of Sin.
Healing of Diseases.
Redemption of Life from the Pit.
The Crown of Love and Mercy.
The Satisfaction of Good Things.
And now we come to the final perk: Personal Renewal.
David writes:
…so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. —Psalm 103:5b
This is a perk with great promise, don’t you agree? The hint that we might be able to turn back the clock and become young again seems too good to be true.
Renewal of Youth?
What does he mean by this? David grew old just like the rest of us. Yet here he is, reminding himself that believing in God made his life seem more energetic, potent, and vigorous. Was he younger? Is this hype? Or is it hope? Let’s look.
First, we notice that David is comparing our renewal of youth to an eagle’s. In David’s day, eagles were known for their strength and ability to soar to great heights, see long distances, and rise above all other birds of the air.
Also, in the ancient world, eagles were thought to periodically shed their old feathers and grow new ones. That is, they would go through a ‘molting’ process in which the old, tired feathers would slough off and fall away, and the bird would emerge with new coverings. This isn't scientifically accurate, but the metaphor is powerful. It speaks of complete renewal, a fresh start, and a new lease on life.
David promises that when you believe, you will have a similar experience. You will be renewed in the same way. It is not a physical restoration but a spiritual, emotional, and mental change of mind and heart.
Is it true? Ask yourself this question: When I stop and consider the truth claims of my faith (which David has listed as forgiveness, healing, redemption, love, mercy, and satisfaction), do I feel new again? Would you use the word “young”? Do you feel young again?
My answer is yes.
The Eagle Has Landed. You Must Be Born Again!
This truth about renewal was powerfully illustrated to me decades ago. Fifty years ago, I heard Episcopal priest Terry Fullam preach a sermon that transformed my understanding of spiritual renewal. The message was so impactful that I can still recall sitting in that church, feeling the weather on my face as I left, and most importantly, the profound truth he shared about eagles.
Through the miracle of a Google search, I found the sermon online1 and a summary in an article2. But I didn’t need to look it up—I knew the main idea in my heart.
An eagle doesn't become an eagle by trying harder - it must be born an eagle. Eagles are different from every other winged creature. They soar higher. They see further. They are not built for flapping. They stand on a perch atop a tree or on the face of a rocky cliff and wait. What are they waiting for? They wait for the right wind, the circumstances, the opportunity. They don’t make things happen—they let things happen. They are ready for what happens because they are not flapping around, looking for random things to eat, snag, capture, or accomplish. (I’m sure I am embellishing my memory of the preacher’s point. It’s been half a century!)
Our spiritual renewal isn't merely about self-improvement or religious effort. Renewal is about something other than trying harder, doing more, or exhausting yourself with tasks, duties, options, or efforts. It is about being born again.
We must be born a new person. As Jesus taught Nicodemus, we must be "born of the Spirit" (John 3:5). This new birth is the foundation of all genuine renewal, setting the stage for continuous spiritual rejuvenation.
Renewal is a more than a one-time event. Like young eagles learning to soar, it often involves being pushed from our comfortable nests. Those times when we feel pushed from our comfort zones when familiar supports seem to be stripped away - these may be God's method of teaching us to soar. As Isaiah understood,
"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).
The Apostle Paul captured this ongoing nature of renewal when he wrote, "Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day" (2 Corinthians 4:16). This renewal comes not through frenetic religious activity but through learning to discern and flow with the Spirit's movement - just as eagles don't achieve flight through constant wing-flapping but by catching thermal currents.
I remember one segment of the sermon that moved me tremendously. Thanks to Google, I found the specific comment that touched me.
Just as eagles wait for the wind to bear them up, an Christian is so sensitive to the movement of God's Spirit that he waits until he discerns the movement of the Spirit, and then gets with it…. So many Christians are like so many birds: they're feverishly flapping their wings, doing good works for the Lord, propelling themselves along. They burn out before long; we just can't do God's work in our own strength. We have to let the Spirit carry us.
This is a tremendous image for me.
A Mirror Moment
It's time for another moment like David’s self-talk. Stand in front of a mirror and look yourself in the eye. Say these words:
"[Your Name], pay attention. The God you serve is not just a God of preservation, but of renewal and transformation. Like an eagle pushing its young toward flight, He may be using your current challenges to teach you to soar. You're not stuck. You're not too old, too tired, or too far gone. And your sins are not too many. In God, renewal is always possible - not just survival, but soaring. Embrace it. Expect it. Live in it. Bless the Lord, O my soul, who renews your youth like the eagle's!"
Think about areas in your life where you feel worn out, where your strength or passion has waned. It could be in your work, your relationships, your spiritual disciplines, or any other area. Are these areas where God might be dismantling your comfortable nest to teach you new ways of soaring?
Like eagles waiting for the right wind currents, learn to discern the Spirit's movement in your life. Don't exhaust yourself with ceaseless activity; wait for and ride the winds of God's timing and empowerment. This is the deeper meaning of having your youth renewed like the eagles—not just receiving fresh strength but learning to soar in new ways.
An Example: The Rx of Faith
A dozen years ago, a successful businessman sought my counsel. His marriage was crumbling after his wife discovered his infidelity - a one-night stand that threatened to end decades of partnership. He sat in my office, successful in business but failing in what mattered most, asking what he could do.
I prescribed this psalm, not as a magic solution, but as a pathway to renewal. I wrote it out on a pad of paper, torn it off, and handed it to this man like doctors use to do. It was a prescription. It read Read Psalm 103:1-5. Twice daily.
I said. “Let David remind you of God's capacity for forgiveness and renewal. Then go to your wife, ask for forgiveness, and rediscover your faith.”
Over the following months, this man embraced both the discipline of daily scripture reading and the hard work of rebuilding trust. Something remarkable happened as he internalized David's teachings about forgiveness and renewal. Not only did his marriage begin to heal, but he also experienced that eagle-like renewal David described.
Do you see that this is what David is telling us? It is hidden behind the word ‘so’ in the passage. He says that when we believe, we receive forgiveness, find healing, discover redemptions, show love and mercy, and experience deep satisfaction in life. And the result of all of this is renewal. In essence, to make it clear, we feel young again!
Through seeking forgiveness, rebuilding trust, and recommitting to his faith, this man rejuvenated his faith. His wife, seeing his genuine transformation, chose to work toward reconciliation.
Today, they both testify to experiencing renewal—not just the restoration of their marriage but a transformation that strengthened their relationship. Their story illustrates how David's promise of renewal can manifest in practical, life-changing ways.
Conclusion
As we conclude this exploration of the benefits David lists in Psalm 103, we see how they build on each other. Forgiveness leads to healing, which opens the way for redemption. We're crowned with love and mercy, satisfied with good, and thus renewed in strength. This is the journey God invites us on—not just of restoration but of transformation, learning to soar higher than we ever imagined possible.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, who renews your youth like the eagle's! —Psalm 103:5b
Go here to listen to a version of the sermon. It's well worth your time.
The article in Preaching Today is here.
The Rev. David Roseberry, an ordained Anglican priest with over 40 years of pastoral experience, offers leadership services to pastors, churches, and Christian writers. He is an accomplished author whose books are available on Amazon. Rev. Roseberry is the Executive Director of LeaderWorks, where his work and resources can be found.