In The Fire

My head had finally hit the pillow when my husband’s phone rang. Who could be calling this late I mumbled. He picked up FaceTime and there on the other end was a fire lighting up the night sky. It was his old elementary school burning to the ground. The school had been abandoned for years and since was commonly occupied by intruders. It was nothing special, but it signified so much hope in our little town. So many of us dreamed of it one day becoming a community center or getting fixed up and reopening, but to no avail there she burned. People came from all over to just watch it crumble to the ground. Piece by piece the fire engulfed the huge brick building till all that remained were ashes.

On our way to church the next morning we stopped to take a look ourselves at the damage. We could smell the smoke a mile away. There she sat over twelve hours later still smoldering.

“Whatever hope there was for this building it’s long gone now. Can anything beautiful come out of this mess?” I had so many thoughts going through my mind as I sat there overlooking the rubble before me. And as I watched I heard that small whisper inside me. The Holy Spirit speaking to me. “Don’t I make beauty out of ashes?”

“Yes Lord, but it would take so much to make this beautiful again,” I said.

“But look at you. Can I not do it again?” God whispered.

“Yes Lord with you anything is possible,” I said quietly in my spirit.

The conversation continued between my creator and I. He reminded me that He sees beyond the natural. He always has hope. And there is nothing outside of his reach or ability to repair.

I remember the days when my life was in ruin. When I had no hope and everything I knew had burned to the ground. At 24 I laid prostrate on the floor as my ex-husband told me he was in love with another woman and was divorcing me. My dreams of a family went up in flames, my dreams of ministry disappears right before my eyes and just like that I was without my husband, career, and homeless. To the common eye, I failed. I lost it all. There I was without hope and nothing to show for my life. Everything I had worked so hard for was burned in a single moment. He had lit the match and threw it on the pile and just like that my life burned right before my eyes.

Then there was hope. Rising up out of the ashes. You see just like when people flocked to see that school burn to the ground so people flocked to me when my life fell apart. They watched as the fire overtook every part of me and wondered how I was still alive a mist it all.

I was able to fall right into the arms of hope. I was held afloat by the master cleanser and artist of all creation. There I stood by the grace of God believing He would restore what was lost. When all hope felt gone He remained and took my ashes and turned them to beauty.

Standing before the burning school I snapped this picture. The name of the school was long eroded, trash-filled the yard and the school sat burning in the background; but you know what I saw? I saw the flag still flying high. Amidst the rubble, it flew. A sign of hope that even when everything seems lost there is always a sign of hope.

Song of Songs 2:4

“He has brought me to his banqueting place, And his banner over me is love [waving overhead to protect and comfort me].

Beloved, I don’t know what fires are burning in your life, but I want to remind you there is always hope. At times it may look like the fire is raging and other times all you see is the remnants of what was, but God never leaves you alone in a fire. He will restore, He will rebuild and He will make beauty out of ashes.

Isaiah 61:3-4

“And provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.”
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Dear friend, He’s not done with you yet.

Sincerely, someone who’s stood in the fire.