Ashes to Flowers
If you've ever been camping, you've learned simple guidelines like wearing bug spray, setting your tent right, and keeping your site area clean. The most crucial rule in camping is never to leave a campfire unattended. Thank you, Smokey the Bear, for that rule. Growing up, I lived in the country my parents owned 60 acres. I invited my friends from high school to have a campout on a nice summer night and have a fire pit at night. We knew how to build a fire pit but were amateurs on how to start a fire. Rocks were used as boundaries to keep the fire from spreading, but grass, piles of wood, and axe spray cans were in the pit. We learned the hard way that boys' deodorant spray would have harmful chemicals and, you guessed it, an explosive end. We were amazed at how big the flame got, but fortunately, it didn't reach our tents and set them on fire. That would've been a disaster. We had fun and put out the fire to sleep till the sun rose. That following day, we saw a poor-made fire pit of explosive body spray cans that looked like a dark black hole from the flame. Here is a sample picture from Google (not the actual photo) of what it looked like.
Everywhere else in the 60-acre land was green except for this little spot where many high schoolers decided to be dumb to play with fire and create this burnt grass spot. I look back and wonder what would have happened if that fire had reached our tents and set more flames around the land. What if that fire began to spread if we didn't place rocks around it to keep it contained inside? Think about wildfires that happen in national forests. I researched This exciting fact: "More than 4 out of 5 wildfires are caused by people. Wildfires move at an average of 14 miles per hour (Natural History Museum of Utah)". Not only do grass die, but trees, plants, wild animals, and even humans can suffer and die from it.
Wildfire example across Utah & Colorado. Photo credit by CNN.
What's the point I'm making here? Our world is surrounded by good and evil. Before defining good and evil, it was first called "good" by our creator, God, The Father. "And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so. God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas." And God saw that it was good. Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds, and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good" (Genesis 1:9-12). It was so good that God wanted to share it with his most valuable creation, which is us. But, we turned our backs on him to rule this good world and redefine it for ourselves, which caused our definition of good to mix with evil. Sin, death, and suffering enter into our world, and sin leaves a burnt spiritual stain on us that we look back at with pain, anger, sadness, or depression.
Humans can cause a sinful action like a flame and burn us, leaving us with a mark that can stick with us for a long time. Not just humans that can cause suffering but cancer and sickness drives suffering to that person. We respond to God like the psalmist in Psalm 69:29, "I am suffering and in pain. Rescue me, O God, by your saving power" (Psalm 69:29 NLT). Does God hear our suffering and help us when we're in tears and wailing, or is he nonexistent, ignoring the cries as one who is a deranged god? (I am asking these questions as someone who wrestles with doubt and has asked those questions before)
Let's go back to my camp story for a moment. Remember I mentioned that fire does destroy grass? What is interesting is when fire destroys grass, grass grows back quickly when it's being cared for with water and sunlight. My dad is the farmer who takes care of the land. He knew I created a burned spot on the property and fixed it properly what the land needed. Thankfully he was only upset for a short moment when I caused that. God is very much a farmer who scatters the seeds, provides water, and is the light and commands all living things to grow by saying one word! When God became man as Jesus, he saw the brokenness, spiritual scars, and bondage that sin caused us, and was moved with compassion. He continued to help the poor, speaking the truth and justice of God, and restoring the world back to order not just "good" but "very good". Jesus even took the flame of suffering for us so we wouldn't be consumed by the fire of death. Of course, we know that doesn't end from there, but new LIFE. The small circle spot on the field that was once a burned spot was restored but grew flowers, not grass.
When we follow Jesus, it's not guaranteed that our lives will get any easier, but we will be more challenged and suffer for His name and glory. We can take hope in what Jesus said, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world (John 16:33)." God doesn't just hear our prayers but collects them. He also catches every tear we cry to Him for help in our suffering. Knowing that God cares for his people is reassuring, like a farmer caring for the field.
I've read this chapter from Tyler Staton's book Praying like Monks, Living like Fools on Ask, Seek, and Knock. His wisdom in the Psalms is what captured me about our God, who is compassionate. "The psalmist tells us in Psalm 126:5, "Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy." Not only will God collect every tear, but he'll redeem every tear. God is not merely bottling up our tears. He also promises that they will bring renewal when they touch the earth. Every tear of ours that falls to the ground will grow the fruit of redemption. God bends history so that the moments of greatest pain become the moments of greatest redemption, twisting the story to be sure that the pain we feel releases the power of new life, and the tears we cry become the foundation of a better world. We are promised that a day is coming when the Father will wipe away every tear from our eyes. But until then, we live on an in-between promise: "I will not let a single one of your tears be wasted."
Reflect on these questions:
- Who or what from the past has caused you suffering?
- How do you think God sees you in your suffering?
- What do you hope for when Jesus comes back?
- What are some sufferings you're currently going through you need to bring to Jesus?
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