Beauty From Ashes

If God is good, why do bad things happen?

When I was eight years old, I survived a fire. In the aftermath, I was tormented with trepidation. Anxiety remained in my mind along with the ashes in my yard. Every detail played over and over in my mind- from feeling as if I was having an asthma attack from the thick smoke, to running hand and hand with my family towards safety, to my dad’s arm hairs burning off.

After surviving, I couldn’t comprehend nor understand why God allowed the fire to happen. I could not see through the thick smoke of my confusion. Then, the smoke cleared. 

Enduring heat of adversity and walking through flames of fear teach us to rely on Him alone. For in the moments when we cannot see what lies ahead, we fix our eyes on Him to guide us, lead us, and protect us. When everything else burns to the ground, He remains the same. 

When we run to the Lord, He saves each and every one of us, regardless of our burn marks of mistakes, from the fire of destruction and fills us with the flame of the Holy Spirit.

In the aftermath of our poor decisions and the remains of our ruins, He helps us rebuild our lives. He makes beauty from ashes and allows us to help others walking through the same hardships. For I survived a fire, so I may return with His living water for those still facing the flames before they burn alive. I survived a fire, so my testimony may provide comfort to other survivors still standing in the remains of ash, the clouds of smoke, and the aftermath of loss. 

I survived a deadly fire,

So I may return with water

for those still standing 

in the midst of flames

before they burn alive.

I survived a deadly fire,

so I may comfort the survivors 

in the remains of ash,

in the clouds of smoke,

and the aftermath of destruction.

I survived a deadly fire,

so He may use my story to help others

with my words flowing from His living water.

For He saves us from the fire of destruction

and fills us with the flame of the Holy Spirit,

lighting us on fire for Him.