The Deadwood Forest

We were so excited about our summer vacation to Yellowstone National Park this year! As we got  ready to go, we researched everything - the geysers, the falls, the lake, the wildlife - we just couldn't wait to see the beauty of the national treasure.
   The first day of the trip we were eager to stand in awe of Old Faithful and the amazing show it would perform just for us. Our expectations were about as high as the mountain tops that create Yellowstone’s landscape.
   But an hour inside the gate, I turned to my husband and had to wonder if he was following the right road. It was silly, of course - there is only one road- but the path we were on, wound through what I quickly labeled The Deadwood Forest. Huge trees, remnants of a fire, stood in stark contrast to the lush vegetation that defined the rest of the park.

   It felt quiet and lonely. By the end of the second day, I was determined to find something beautiful about this barren stretch. I kept searching the tops of those black trunks for some sign of life. Nothing.
   Finally, I looked down and found an emerald carpet of grass, ferns, bushes and baby trees buried down at the bottom of these massive, burned giants. You really have to look hard to see it and if you aren’t paying attention, will miss it altogether.
   I later found out that it's God's way of purging out the old growth and making way for the new. In fact, there is a whole section further inside the park that is completely dedicated to the benefits of forest fires. The burning has to happen to clear a path for the new growth that will come in thicker and more alive than the forest that is standing now. It reminded me of something...

“For everyone will be purified with fire.” Mark 9:49

   As a Christian, there are seasons in life when trials rage like a wildfire. It burns and the smoke is so thick and it seems like I will never see the light of day. When it's over and the embers are dying, I am left standing in a dead-wood forest. It's as if no life is left in me.
   Thankfully, our God is a god of life, not death. Soon, I'm able to look within and see the new sprouts of faith that are the result of the cleansing fire. The dead is gone and once more I am a new being in Christ, stronger and more abundant in my faith. Sometimes, I have to look pretty hard, but it is there and before long I am not the only one that can see the thicker growth, standing more alive than the old me.
   Where are you in your Christian walk today? Are you enjoying the lush green pastures of abundance or are you standing in the middle of a dead forest? Is the fire raging around you? I encourage you to keep your eyes on the One is in control of your circumstances. Keep your faith and trust that the cleansing, once done, will create a greater you in Christ. And soon and very soon, you will not be the only one who is a witness to your new faith.
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Alycia Holston lives in Helena, MT with her husband and three children. Her heart has always been in women's ministry and has spent the last ten years loving and supporting her fellow mothers. Now she's reaching out through her writing. As an author, Alycia combined her love of children, geography and God's amazing creation as she wrote 'While The Giant Is Sleeping' - the story of the Sleeping Giant of Helena who slumbers while the world continues to grow and change around him. To learn more about Alycia check out her website -  www.calmcreations.com.