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Do You Still Feel the Fire?
Another year has come and gone. And with it, moments of reflection. Do you remember the thrill of discovery? The joy that came from the knowledge that His truth makes you free? That walking in righteousness makes you better?
I do.
But then there are times when we’re tired. So tired we can’t see straight. Embittered by the unfairness of things we see occurring around us. Why do evil men prosper? Why are moments of tragedy and trial recurring all too frequently in our lives? Like the pleas of the psalmist our feet too have almost slipped.
But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Psalm 73.2-3
I don’t know if it’s just that the years have caught up to us. Or if we believe that something actually changed the fabric of our world. Or that something has changed in us. For a while we do the best we can to soldier on without that fire we once had. But then the exhaustion just bears down on us harder and harder. We want to do good, but there’s something hollow in it. We forget the joy of the little victories. And fail to recall that the larger battle has already been won. The outcome was never, ever in doubt. But doubt we do. In moments of weakness and despair we fail to see the Way like we did when we were younger. Trying to make sense of the madness of it all we stumble. We slip.
Indifference. Numbness. Cynicism. Lingering doubt. Loss of passion. All indicators of an inner issue that requires our immediate attention.
Remember now. Before the evil days come. Before the years draw near. Words from the Ecclesiastes writer are seared into our collective memory. But that’s a message for those who are younger, right? How soon we forget.
And so we need to remember. Even now. And remind ourselves that when we first began our walk, we understood that what we do for His kingdom is worth something. We’re just ordinary people doing our best to stand up to the darkness. Take heed to His words of comfort when all seems lost.
Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Isaiah 43.1b-3a
We need not be swallowed up by the waters of difficulty. Rekindle the fire. Fuel the flames with truth. His truth. Faith offsets the darkness that envelops us. See the vindication of the Servant. Maintain your trust in His sovereignty. Be refined for His glory. Through flood and flames our God will not let you be overwhelmed. Our hearts need not be troubled anymore. Neither should we be afraid. He has overcome the world.
Do you still feel the fire? Or has the burning in your breast turned into a smoldering ember? What more could we be? What more should we be?
Fan into flame the gift of God. Kindle it anew. We are not incapable for the task that is at hand. Walk boldly with Him. Recapture the awe of God.
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
Revelation 1.3
No flame, no matter how well fueled, will continue to burn without the input of a careful prod here and a push there. Stay in the Word. Go to it frequently. Meditate on it daily. And know that even the bravest among us have felt fear and doubt and stumbled. The difference is they simply have not allowed it to alter their actions. One step at a time. One day at a time. One hour at a time.
Souls need to be saved. Lives lived in glory to Him are to be lived.
Keep the flame lit and burning bright!
