This morning, we woke up to smoke.
In the small mountain community where we live in Idaho, our home is surrounded by tall Ponderosa Pine trees. These forest giants tower over our home, and over the years, they have been for us a source of beauty, shade, and protection from the elements. Because of their size, it would seem that little could bring them down. Year after year they withstand harsh winters, deep snow, and high winds, yet, they’ve continued to stand tall through it all.
But as strong and mighty as these trees may seem, when the lush, green vegetation around them dries and becomes brittle under a hot summer sun, they become incredibly vulnerable. Then, anything that might cause a spark becomes a threat to their very existence, along with everything around them.
A recent string of high temperatures helped create the perfect scenario for a fire disaster in our area, and it only took one dry thunderstorm to provide that dreaded spark, starting a fire on an adjacent hilltop not far from our home.
Our hearts sank when we looked across the valley to see plumes of bellowing smoke rise from the hills nearby, and fear rose within us as we considered the very real possibility of losing our beloved trees, our land, and our home.
Fortunately, with a river running between us, and with a southest wind driving the fire in the opposite direction, away from our home, so far our home has been kept safe.
Fear is a powerful emotion. It seems that whenever we are faced with something we perceive as a threat, whether real or conceived, wild imaginings of dreadful outcomes tend to creep into our minds, and fear mercilessly takes us into its unyielding grasp. Then, like a mean-spirited bully, it pushes out all positive, helpful emotions until we are left in a state of high anxiety and unrest.
But there is a power greater than fear. I know this, for I have felt it.
Our Savior offers us His peace, promised peace, when we turn to Him. During the most unsettling of times, when our whole world seems to be falling apart and all seems lost, the comforting reassurance of His Spirit comes to us, and while sheltering us from the ravishing effects of fear, He offers us peace with this assurance, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)
It remains a mystery to me how this is accomplished in us, but I know that somehow it is, for I can feel it now, calming my fears and carrying me through this distressing event. For this, I am most grateful.
Fret Not Thyself
By Amy Carmichael
Far in the future
Lieth a fear,
Like a long, low mist of grey,
Gathering to fall in dreary rain,
Thus, doth thy heart within thee
complain;
And even now thou art afraid, for
round thy dwelling
The flying winds are ever telling
Of the fear that lieth grey.
Like a gloom of brooding mist
Upon the way.
But the Lord is always kind,
Be not blind. . .
Be not blind to the shining
of His face,
To the comforts of His grace.
Hath He ever failed thee yet?
Never, never; wherefore fret?
O fret not thyself, nor let
Thy heart be troubled,
Neither let it be afraid.
Nearby thy footfall
Springeth a joy.
Like a new-blown little flower,
Growing for thee,
to make thee glad.
Let thy countenance be no more sad,
But wake the voice of joy and
health within thy dwelling,
And let thy tongue be ever telling,
Not of fear that lieth grey,
But of little laughing flowers
beside the way.
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