In the Fire ....
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you cross rivers, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, nor will the flames hurt you. Isaiah 43:2
I am exiting a season of life in which I visited many hospitals, urgent care facilities and doctor's offices. Early in the summer, as my daughter and me sat in a small waiting room, I noticed one book on a likely untouched shelf: Fire in the Forest, a Cycle of Growth and Renewal. In the chaos of everyday life on this temporal earth, I have come to recognize we will encounter fires. I have also gained a new understanding of this beautiful reality: It is possible for our souls to grow, our spirits to be renewed and our hearts to experience peace as the flames glow around us. How do we accomplish this? We must find Him, our almighty Father of grace and peace.
In the second week of July, I served lunches to over 150+ children, a church service opportunity I wrote about previously. On one particular day, I struggled to focus, unable to escape the news I received on the phone only a night before. My daughter had been injured while boating out of town. I could not ignore the fear overwhelming my spirit. I could not contain the apprehension I felt anticipating her next phone call. Suddenly, in an unplanned moment, one precious momma of a child we had just served walked towards me and embraced me in one of the largest hugs I have ever received. Hers was a hug of overwhelming gratitude. It was a tender embrace, a beautiful reminder of God's pure love for all of us. In the flames of insecurity, doubt and fear...I found Him.
I have never been behind the closed doors of a hospital area near an MRI machine. Yet on a hot, Texas summer day, I sat in a wobbly chair as a medical technician carefully wheeled my daughter into a room with a large machine, bright lights and loud noises. Only a thick glass wall separated us. As I sat overwhelmed with fear and anxiety, I could not silence the loud hum of an ice machine nearby. I could not ignore the temporary flicker of the bright lights. I could not gaze past the flashing computer screen. As the technician sat a short distance from me, he gently turned up the volume on his computer monitor. He quietly whispered to me, "Is this music ok?" The words of the first song filled the entire room: "Indescribable, uncontainable, You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name. You are an amazing God." Once again, in a fiery moment, I found Him.
Are you in a fiery, unplanned season of life? Remain alert to your surroundings. Gaze beyond the flames. Find Him. Recognize this opportunity for growth and renewal. Give thanks. Amen.
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