Walking Through the Fire

     Not long ago I read a story about a tree found in the West.  I don't remember the name but it is an unusual tree.  Every year it drops seeds to the ground, seeds from this tree continually fall,  and, the seeds just lay there.  They do not go into the ground and produce more trees; they just lay there...until a forest fire comes.  When the fire comes, these seeds begin to spring forth and sprout.  It is only in the fire that new life springs forth.

It is often that same way with us.  You will find that you grow the very most during difficult times.  You will find that you gain the most strength swimming upstream.  It is not in success that you learn to do things better, but in failures.  It's in the hard and challenging times that you learn to cling to God and to press on through to the other side. Those close to me know personally the fire I have walked through over the last three years. It's been hard. I've gotten angry, I've cried and I've thrown things, and I've had to dig my heels in to the dirt.   I've had to step out, and step up but I've grown tremendously, and become far more bold for Christ than I ever thought I could. 

Don't despise the fire, embrace it.  Welcome it.  Knowing that God is working in you and bringing you forth as gold.  He is bringing you to a place where you look, act and react just like Him.  He is causing all your seeds - and I know you have many - to spring forth and produce newness of life.  Trust Him in the fire.  Don't jump out.  Just trust Him - He will bring you through and you won't even smell of smoke.  It's His promise!

Isaiah 43:2  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.