October 27, 2021
(2 minutes, 13 seconds)
At nine years old, with burns on 100 percent of his small body, John O’Leary nearly died. In his riveting and inspiring book, On Fire, John shockingly says as an adult, and with much conviction, that if he could go back in time he’d go through his accident and resulting disfiguring and pain all over again.
How can he say this?
Because he contends, “The fire molded me into who I am today. While it is true that if I’d not been burned, I’d remove all the difficulties caused by the fire. It is also true that I’d destroy all the gifts galvanized because of it.”
John goes on to say, “Everything beautiful and enriching in my life today was born through the tragedy of those flames. Through the painful ashes of recovery as a child, I grew in character, audacity, compassion, faithfulness, and drive. It led to a clear perspective on what actually matters and a bold vision for what’s possible.”
My husband, a gifted teacher who has a side job teaching college graduate classes, likes to tell me that if I have a question, someone else probably has that question too.
Bottom line: ask your questions.
So here are a few of mine.
How can God say, “He won’t let your foot slip”? (Psalm 18:36)
Because my feet have “slipped” and consequently, I’ve undergone a total of five reconstructive ankle surgeries.
Why would God promise, “When you go through the fire you won’t be burned”? (Isaiah 43:2) Because John O’Leary did go through an actual fire. More than burned, he got scorched.
These and other seemingly unreconcilable bible promises gradually and subtly began to harden my heart when I put them up against cases of real-life suffering, including my own. They made me skeptical. They caused me to doubt the God I trusted in. I became deeply disappointed in my Maker. No, I didn’t throw in the towel on my faith in Jesus, but these questions took me deep in a spiritual wrestle.
When our foot does slip, when the water does overtake us, and when we are burned by the fire, our vision can become thickly clouded by disappointment, grief, and uncertainty.
When doubt in the goodness of God rises and the brokenness of this life threatens to overtake us, we must continue on our journey of learning with white-knuckle clinging and utter dependence on God being who He says He is and what His promises mean.
This life is a breath. (Psalm 144:4)
Breathe in. Do it. Come on, take a breath.
That’s it. Life is a breath and then it’s over.
And then comes eternity.
We won’t have ankles that roll and bodies that are broken forever. Fire won’t destroy us for good.
The steadfast love of God, His never-forsaking and constant presence with us, and the profound truth of being safely kept forever trumps any physical tribulation no matter how deep they cut this side of eternity.
We will be scarred in this life, in these bodes, but we are not beaten. John O’Leary says it, I say it, and most importantly, God’s Word says it.
“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair, persecuted but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:9
God’s promise in Isaiah 42:3 for when we go through fires is that He will be with us.
God who went through the fire first for us says that when we go through the fire, the flames won’t consume us.
Scarred but not defeated. Burned but not consumed.
Because Jesus went through first. And heaven is coming.