Fire Walking

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.

Isaiah 43:2

Abraham, Moses, Joseph, David, Esther, Daniel, Mary...Jesus...,Peter, Paul, Timothy–they all survived growing up. Yet there isn’t one of them that didn’t endure a "flood" or "fire" at least one time in their lives. The truth is most of them lived through numerous encounters with overwhelming events that surely left them feeling soggy and charred.

Experience tells us that it takes some pain to grow up. We didn’t learn to walk without falling down or ride a bike without skinned knees. Why should it be any different, spiritually. Eugene Peterson says that, "growing up and growing up in Christ are the same thing." When I first heard these words twenty-five years ago I left the room completely confused. How could they possibly be the same? But with each passing year my growing up continues and along the way have come the "flood" and "fire" challenges that have helped strengthen body, soul, mind and heart.

If I open myself up, each encounter with "flood" or "fire" has the possibility of becoming that which will help me grow up in Christ. The promise is that while this "growing up" won’t be overwhelming, there will be some pain attached to it. However, I can anticipate becoming a fire walker!

Jesus, you are the power over water and fire!
Take the floods and fires of my life
and form them into the lessons that will
keep me growing up in You.
AMEN.