Don't Fear the Fire
Why some fires spark flourishing.
I took my mom out for a belated Mother’s Day celebration over the weekend. We went to our favorite Florida State Park, Caladesi Island.
“Ah, now this is old Florida,” Mom said with a relaxed smile as we pulled into the parking lot. No condos, no high rises, and no restaurants (except for the little snack shack blasting Taylor Swift.)
We purchased two tickets for the ferry, walked down the boardwalk to the boat, took our center aisle seats, and felt the ocean spray splash our faces as we sped across the waterway. Mangroves greeted us upon our slow entry into the no wake zone as we gently docked.
“Don’t be alarmed, folks. You’ll notice several burned areas on the island. The park rangers conduct controlled burns to clear out debris so lightning doesn’t spark wildfires. Come back in two weeks and everything will be green and lush again!” the captain’s confident chorus rang out over the radio.
Mom and I disembarked and made our way down the boardwalk to the white sand. I noticed a line of scorched Sabal palms guiding the path to paradise.
Controlled burns, no need for alarm, green again in two weeks. The captain’s speech stirred my spiritual imagination.
Mom and I enjoyed this glorious view for three whole hours.
But I couldn’t get the burnt palms out of my head. So, I Googled “controlled burns,” and interestingly found an old news article from 1996. The opening line reads:
“Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, new life will spring from the charred forest floor at Caladesi Island State Park.” David Lowerre, Tampa Bay Times1
Here are a few benefits of controlled burns2
Promotes the growth of native vegetation, wildflowers, and trees
Minimizes the spread of pest insects and disease
Removes invasive species that threaten native plants and animals
The ferry captain explained how some nearby residents phoned the fire department upon seeing smoke billowing up from the island. Their fear was a false alarm, though. Because the burns served a greater purpose. The prescribed fires would spark greater flourishing.
I wonder how many times I’ve been quick to call 911 spiritually?
“Um, there’s an emergency, Lord! I see smoke! Put out this fire now!”
Sometimes life is confusing. We smell smoke, we see fire, and we panic. We pull the fire alarm hoping God will come rushing in with His heavenly fire hydrant and extinguish the flames before our personal paradise is destroyed. But the black smoke billows high and the orange flame burns hot on our island.
And then, sometimes life is just hard in this broken world we live in. God is not the author of chaos, confusion, or death. But, He is the refiner. And there are times when He prescribes sanctifying fires, or controlled burns, for our good and His glory- the Refiner’s fire.
Proverbs speaks to the purpose of refining fires.
“The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests the hearts.” Proverbs 17:3 NKJV
The holy heat is good for our hearts. Why? Because it purifies our motives. Purification and pruning go hand and hand.
Jesus speaks to the purpose of pruning.
“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” John 15:2 NKJV
The prescribed pruning serves a greater purpose. What? So we can produce even more fruit. In order to produce more fruit in one area of life, sometimes we are faced with necessary endings.
Clinical psychologist, Dr. Henry Cloud, speaks to the purpose of necessary endings.
“Endings are not only part of life; they are a requirement for living and thriving, professionally and personally. Being alive requires that we sometimes kill off things in which we were once invested, uproot what we previously nurtured, and tear down what we built for an earlier time.” Dr. Henry Cloud, Necessary Endings3
Necessary endings spark new growth. How? By making room for the new life God has for us, much like clearing the debris from the forest floor.
The refining, pruning, and necessary endings in life all point to a Creator who is concerned with our spiritual growth and flourishing.
You might smell smoke. You may even see some flames burning the ground around you. Maybe you feel the pruning shears of sanctification. Or, perhaps you are experiencing a necessary ending in order to align your purpose to the Person of Christ over the plans of man. Whatever the case, take courage.
I’m not telling you to suppress your feelings or sweep your sorrow under the rug. I’m encouraging you to partner with the Holy Spirit in the process. Ask the Holy Spirit all your questions and take your concerns to the throne of grace. Remember that God is working all things together, even the controlled burn, for His glory and your good.
Don’t fear the fire, friends. It’s God’s faithfulness that purifies our hearts and motives. It’s His compassion which prunes our lives so we bear more fruit. And it’s His kindness that causes necessary endings so we can move forward in faith, hope, and love.
Remember that new life, more fruit, and deeper devotion to God can be a result of the controlled, refining fire.
I imagine God the Father much like the ferry captain, “Don’t be alarmed by the refining fire. It will spark flourishing in new ways for your good and My glory.”
Refining fire, no need for alarm, more fruit to follow.
Spend five minutes in prayer asking the Holy Spirit to reveal how He’s pruning and growing you in this season. Take all of your concerns, feelings, and grief to Him today. Let Him counsel you and minister to you. And then thank God for His refining fire which leads to spiritual flourishing.
With Love,
Audra
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I soooo needed this reminder today. Thank you!!
It’s been sort of a not wanting to get out of bed and face the day season lately. I’m doing much of what I call praying through, praying till I feel His peace and the joy of His presence. It’s sort of like putting shocks on a car, not taking the bumps out of the road, but makes the ride a whole lot smoother.
So good. Thanks for sharing. There was a chorus called “Refiner’s Fire” we used to sing in college.