How an actual fire helped refine my faith

Almost two years ago, my son, who was seven at the time, sustained second-degree burns to his face and hands. His wounds needed about two weeks to heal, which truly amazed me. But I’m still being refined by what I learned of community during that time.

To be refined means to have unwanted elements removed by a process. In other words, when we refined, we are purified, clarified, cleansed, developed, and improved.

Ben was helping Greg with a burn pile of brush when a flame flared up and my boy was standing too close. He put his hands in front of his face, probably actually protecting his eyes, but the vapors of the flames still got him. He spent two nights at Vanderbilt Medical Center’s burn unit. We come home with a bag of wound care supplies and painkillers and a faith that was being proven pure.

Maybe it hasn’t been an actual fire in your life. Maybe you’ve walked through a broken relationship, expectations that haven’t been met, disappointment caused by someone you love, dreams that haven’t come true, grief from losing someone near, or another physical-impairing experience. Maybe you’ve been sick or anxious or worried or lost.

Whatever the figurative fire that’s burned our lives,
we can be refined and the people around us can help.

{Tweet that.}

Read more of how this fire and our community helped refine my faith at Lyli Dunbar’s blog. I’m happy to be part of her Refined series. {CONTINUE READING …}