Fire

"Fire"

Leanne Tipton

I have been down here for weeks and months now.

There are some days lately,

quite a lot of them, in fact,

when I wonder if it will always be like this,

if I will be going from one fire to the next

barely escaping with just

scorching the tips of my toes

as you pull me out, yet again.

And just when I am exhaling a sigh of relief and

thanking you for rescuing me and

healing from the horrible pain and

trying to move forward,

I feel the warmth of the next flame on my back,

heating up in intensity as I try to run,

until suddenly I am consumed once again in

this never-ending, smoke-filled valley.

But one thing for certain I know.

When this season has passed,

and you lead me out of this valley

with the tear stains on my face

and the soot and the ashes and the scars

I will be completely changed

from the woman who was on the mountaintop

with small faith like an ember.

And I thank you

and praise you for this.

Isaiah 48:10

Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver;

I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.