In 2019, the Swan Lake Fire ravaged over 167 thousand acres of land in Alaska's Kenai Peninsula. Most of this land was part of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. Started by a lightning strike, the fire was allowed to burn freely until it began threatening structures or private property, as is the practice in areas with such massive wilderness.
Many people balk at the practice of allowing fires to burn within the wilderness, however experts agree that fires are actually good- and necessary- to maintain a healthy ecosystem.
As I was driving through the burned and desolate beauty of the Swanson River fire the other day, it struck me that just like this forest, sometimes we experience fire in our lives. Some things remain untouched, and some things are burned and charred remains, removed from our life as we new it.
Just as experts allow fires to burn for the ultimate benefits to the ecosystem, our God allows conceptual fires to burn in our lives for the ultimate benefit of our soul.
How can something so destructive be good?
It is hard to imagine the destruction of a wildfire as something that is good or beneficial. On the surface, the aftermath of a fire simply seems like a path of death and darkness. What we often don't realize is that death and darkness is necessary in order to allow new growth.
Did you know that seeds from various pine trees are trapped in a pitch-sealed pine cone? In order for the seeds to be released, the pitch has to be melted by fire.
How about all of the dead or decaying plants that carpet the ground in a mature forest? These actually prevent new plants or animals from accessing the nutrients in the soil and stifle plant growth. The only way to get rid of all of the dead organic matter is through fire.
Just as an ecosystem benefits from fire, so do our lives. When we allow God to eliminate all of the things in our life that are stifling and preventing growth in Him, we are opening our lives up for a wealth of new growth that is so much healthier than what was there before.
...We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. -Romans 5:3-5
Why do some areas survive while others do not?
Have you ever noticed that some areas or trees in a burned-out forest area remain untouched, while other areas are burnt to a crisp?
While some trees grow thicker bark and drop lower branches to withstand fire, there are other plants or areas of a forest that remain seemingly untouched. As the fire raged, there was an outside force that caused it to burn some areas and not others. This outside force could have been wind, groundwater, or a lack of fuel for the fire in that area. Whatever the reason, these untouched areas of forest among a wasteland of charred tree stumps can be an amazing sight to behold.
When our lives get turned upside down, we soon discover where our strength lies. The things of God- those are the things that will still remain. Those are the things worth hanging on to.
All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever. -1 Peter 1:24-25
Invasive plants are a danger to the process of regrowth.
One of the benefits of a forest fire is that it burns out the invasive plants that don't belong. These plants are not adapted to fires and are easily destroyed by the heat and smoke that a fire brings. After the fire and once the forest begins new growth, the only way for these invasive plants to have access is if someone allows them in and gives them access.
The same is true in our lives. Once we survive the fire and are beginning to regrow our life, it can be easy to allow invasive plants (in the form of sins, bad habits, or poor influences) into our life. As these take hold in the fertile soil of our souls, they will begin to flourish and grow along with the good plants. Soon we will find ourselves in a similar place than when we started.
For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush. -Luke 6:44
No matter what fire you've faced or are currently facing, there is hope.
Through our lives, we might experience many different fires. Maybe your parents died at a young age. Maybe you lost everything in the stock market. Maybe your wife left you and your kids behind. Fires come in all shapes and sizes.
Despite the fires that you have been through and the devastation left behind, be assured that God has never left your side. Some people blame God for what they've been through. The truth is, we don't know the mind of God. We don't know His plan for us, but we do know that He promises to work all things out for our eternal good.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. - Romans 8:28
No matter who started the fire, God controls the flames. He uses that fire- something that was meant for death and destruction- to mold and shape your life. He burns out the bad things in your life to make room for good things to grow. Let Him do His work. Trust Him to guide the flames.
Once the fire subsides and you take stock of the damage, you'll find that He has taken care of you. The important things, the things that really matter, will remain. You will be stronger and wiser because of it, and should you let Him, He will guide you through a time of exponential personal growth.
Website consulted: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/article/ecological-benefits-fire/
Recommended Reading:
You Will Not Drown
PAIN: Why does God allow it?