Refiner’s Fire

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

As evidenced by the devastation in California in 2003, wildfires have an out-of-control nature. Each year, more than one hundred thousand wildfires occur in the United States. Did you know that these fires are a natural way of clearing old growth in order to make room for new growth? In fact, some trees cannot survive without periodic blazes—and most animals escape and even benefit from wildfires. They simply find a new place to live. Thus the forest’s cycle of life starts over—lasting decades or centuries, until the forest grows back and the departed animals return.

Sometimes there is no way to stop the out-of-control flames but to pray and wait for the flames to fall silent.

How do we handle the fires that rage through our lives—divorce, unemployment, or disappointments? Remember that God is with you in the midst of those trials. He has plans for new growth in your heart. His reasons are not always known, but the benefits of trusting God through hard times are eternal.

Meditate on these lyrics from Brian Doerksen’s worship song “Refiner’s Fire”: “Refiner’s fire, my heart’s one desire is to be holy, set apart for You, Lord. I choose to be holy, set apart for You, my master, ready to do Your will.”