Truly, O God of Israel, our Savior, you work in mysterious ways.
Isaiah 45:15 NLT
The 2013 Morgan Fire was sparked by target shooting, an innocent accident that destroyed 3,111 acres on Mount Diablo, California. But the following spring rare “fire followers” burst with color, covering the mountain. The last time they were seen was half a century ago. For botanists and naturalists, viewing this phenomenon was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
The death of a loved one can be like a wildfire. You don’t know what parts of your life will turn to ashes and what parts will survive. Many may feel everything is lost, but just like the fire flowers, God brings beautiful things from ashes.
Grief can be difficult during the holidays. The pain of loss has a way of resurfacing when the temperatures cool and the days get shorter.
Philippians 3:14 (NASB) says, “Forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” We will never forget the significance of those lost, but we can press forward to see how God will use the influence of their lives and deaths to make us stronger believers.
Take some time this season to reflect on the unexpected treasures you have found through grief. God has brought you through this trial for your good and His glory. So don’t let the sadness blind you to the beautiful display of flowers on your mountain.
Father, the grief in my heart is still tender, but I trust You to work everything together for my good. Open my eyes to see my own personal fire flowers.
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Today’s reading was adapted from Daily Wisdom for Women: 2013 Devotional Collection with permission from Barbour Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reading was written by Sabrina McDonald.