Fires

A few short months ago, this area was blackened by the raging flames of a controlled burn. The roaring conflagration was fueled by thorns, underbrush, and prairie grass. “Impurities”, as it were, went up in smoke. 

But now? 

All that charred land replaced by lush greenery. An abundant prairie teaming with life. 

This morning I sat for a while and watched the birds and even a couple of white-tail deer move through the meadow. I sat, lost in wonder, watching as the fog lifted over the little peninsula on the lake and the sun’s morning rays illuminated the bank. 

Time heals all wounds, as the saying goes. It hasn’t taken much time for this prairie to heal from the effects of the controlled burn. But as “painful” as it was for the land, there are benefits.

A controlled burn doesn’t just get rid of present tinder like dead weeds and underbrush. By preventing further undergrowth, it protects against future raging, out-of-control wildfires.

Life is like that sometimes. 

We inevitably go through hard times of testing, purging, and refining. Jesus talked about purging and pruning in John 15. Job described the refiner’s fire in Job 23. Without purging and pruning, we won’t be fruitful. And, that purging and pruning may remove habits or hangups that could cause us even more trouble down the road if allowed to take root. 

But here’s the thing about the refining, controlled burning trials of life: God is in the fire with us. 

He has promised to never leave nor forsake us. And that means when we walk through the fire, HE is right there beside us. He always will be, because He is faithful. 

As I sat there pondering controlled burns, I couldn’t help but think of how that applies in my own life. 9-10 years ago I was in the midst of a raging refining fire. The most painful time of my life. Moments so dark that there were times I legitimately wondered if I would make it. 

But one thing I had learned in previous trials was that He was with me. I knew that with one word, God could change the whole situation, end the trial, and life could move on with lessons learned. But like the three Hebrew boys in Daniel 3, I was also able to confidently say, “Even if He doesn’t, I will still trust Him.” 

As I’ve been turning the page on this chapter of life and beginning a new and exciting chapter, I’ve been reliving many of those moments and I am just overwhelmed  by the faithfulness of God. He has been so faithful to me, even when I’ve stumbled and fallen. 

As crazy as it sounds, I am thankful for the “controlled burn” of life. Without it, I would have never experienced the closeness of this faith walk with God. I would have missed the grace that changed my life. 

So if you’re walking through fire today, know there’s a Savior Who walks by your side. He will never leave you. And when He is done refining, you will come forth shining like gold.