... taken from our Christmas Advent Devotional. I pulled from a blog I had written back in April and added a few tad-bits and this was how it came out. You can check it out in our official Grace Pres Advent Devotional - or you can just read below- however I would suggest picking it up if you can, because there are many great days of reading within!
I have been thinking a lot about what it means for a farmer to set his field on fire. It humbles me to think about the courage that it must take to light that first match. Many times farmers will set their fields a blaze – not because they are ‘walking on the wild side’ but because it is what is necessary for new and abundant growth to take place the next season.
Can you imagine? You are standing on your lively-hood and all in about 5 minutes the whole place is rolling with flames. Most of the time we do everything we can to prevent such a thing from happening – but not these farmers. They have to do something so scary, so drastic, and so crazy, in order for new life to emerge.
There are so many things about this that make me think of my life this past year. I have gone through LOTS of change… at work, in friendships, and with myself. It is like I am dealing with my own personal fire. Like I am standing a midst the flames, often finding it hard breath, and most certainly finding it hard to see it’s initial advantage for my life. Facing the fire is rough. When you look around and see what appears to be complete devastation – it is almost impossible to imagine the new life, the possibilities, and all the good that could come from such blaze.
As we enter this time of Advent, I am reminded of a certain, beautiful promise – Jesus. This promise of a Savior to come was made to worn down, broken, mistake makin’, fire facing people. This same promise is offered to you and me today. Jesus is our courage when we face the fire. Jesus is the match that helps light that fire. Jesus is the flame in our hearts to keep going in the midst of the smoke. Jesus is the new growth that comes up from the ashes. Jesus is the promise that we must cling to when the flames around us seem unbearable.
It is crazy to think that something so seemingly devastating could be exactly what is needed for new growth to take place. It is even crazier to think that the things that we go through are completely necessary for us to thrive in the next season of our life.
Maybe your facing a fire now, maybe the last flame just went out, or maybe you are seeing the abundant growth around you – whatever it is, I encourage you to remember the promises of our Savior. He is with you now, was with you then, and will be with you always.
Amen.
