June 1: Rising From the Ashes

Linda Wright-Patrick 
Eight Mile Rock SDA, Bahamas

By: Linda Wright Patrick

Theme: Refined Like Gold Through Trials

Job 23:10 "But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold."

I stood there in a daze, eyes transfixed on the scene before me, looking through the adjoining bathroom window of my bedroom. Unbelief, fear, anger, hopelessness—all the emotions were crashing through my body, not one after the other but simultaneously. 

“Mommy, mommy, the shed is burning. The fire is getting closer to the house.” My daughter's words finally penetrated my ears. 

She had been shouting to get my attention for some time, but I was frozen in disbelief. 

“What’s the number for 911?” I asked myself, the walls, my three kids huddled in the bathroom with me, but really to no one. 

My daughter held out the phone to me, and I dialed. I informed the operator of our plight, emphasizing the fact that our home would be minutes away from being engulfed in the flames that, in seconds, had devoured our shack. 

“Get out of the house, ma’am. The fire truck is assisting other homes in the area and will be on its way,” the operator said calmly.  

I grabbed my three kids and we hurried out of the house and into the car, seeking to distance ourselves from the rapidly moving fire. By now, I had dialed my husband, who was on his way. Shortly after his arrival, we found out that the truck was not on its way; in fact, the one available truck had run out of water. We watched as the smoke got thicker and the fire bigger. 

Neighbors came along and assisted my husband with watering the area near our home while also trying to use the hose to put out the fire. The fire truck finally arrived, but it was too late for our shack, just inches away from reaching our home. The fire was so close to our home that the screens outside the doors and windows melted from the heat of the fire. 

It was a frightening experience. Days later, still in shock from the experience, the most I did was look out the window at the rubble. Finally, I built up the courage to go outside and check the damage. Everything was utterly destroyed, and nothing was salvageable. As I walked around the foundation of the structure, I saw the tarnished remains of my kid's bicycle frame, a refrigerator, but everything else was just ashes. Just then, a little wind blew and rustled the heap. As I turned to leave, sorrowful because of everything that was destroyed, I saw a little piece of white. Bending down, I gently scooped up the sheet. At firs,t I thought it was a piece of a dictionary, but as I examined it and finally read the words, I realized it was a scripture from the Bible. 

“For I know the plans I have for you.” 

“Let not your heart be troubled.” 

“Don’t worry about anything.”

I wanted the text to be any of those words, but it wasn’t. Quite honestly, I can’t recall what it said. However, the mere fact that I found a piece of the Bible then, when I needed that glimmer of hope, really felt like the scriptures above were being read to me by God himself. 

No matter what I go through, God is saying He will be there. The trials were numerous and intense, and often came at unexpected times. The loss of my sister, the death of my father, job loss, being overlooked for a position, being hated for just existing, and the list goes on. But I rose up from the ashes of pain, hurt, embarrassment, and agony. Like finding the scripture amid burnt, tarnished rubble, I allowed God to give me peace. I began to rise above all that was weighing me down. It didn’t happen overnight, but I praised God that it did. Job had his refining experience and was able to declare, “But he knoweth the way that I take: When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” Job 23:10. 

You may be facing the heat of uncertainty, your life may seem off course, and the darkness of your problems may be trying to choke the hope out of you, but you don’t have to accept that fate. Allow God the space to free you from those burdens. Allow Him to raise you above the ashes. He does it in such a powerful way that no matter how bad you have experienced, He can turn it into something good. Like Romans 8:28 reminds us, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.”

Here are a few lessons I learnt from my experience that I believe can help you as well:

1. No matter how impossible things may seem, allow God to make them possible.

2. Your trial is not the end of the story.  The victorious part is coming up next, so don’t give up.  

3. In the midst of your fire, trust God to be there. 

Charge:

Write a list of all the problems, challenges, and areas of concern that are weighing you down on a sheet of paper. Burn the paper in a fire pit or metal container and watch as it is reduced to ashes. 

Repeat this prayer: 

Lord, I release everything to you. Help me rise above the ashes of my situation. May I find joy in the midst of my trials. Grant me the desire to praise you continuously, no matter what state I am in. Please allow my story to bring you glory. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

My Prayer for you: Lord, listen to your daughter's prayer. Help others be drawn closer to you because she rose above the ashes. May her life be a testimony of your goodness. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.