Bonfire for the Soul
Last winter, our whole family cross country skied across a frozen bay in Lake Superior. It was a 10k with a candlelit path, hundreds of other ambitious skiers and even floating lanterns and a fire breathing snow sculpture dragon to enliven the path. My eight year old son got his first pair of skis for Christmas and enjoyed 2-5k treks on a regular basis. He and I ended up together as everyone set their pace. After a while, he looked ahead and saw a tent and assumed that the race was almost over. He was excited to reach the finish line, but when we approached the tent, I had to explain that this was the 5k mark-only halfway.
His spirits were dampened and the last 5k we trudged through, cold and tired. At every kilometer, there was a bonfire and encouragement, sometimes including hot chocolate or a cookie. So, EVERY kilometer, we stopped to warm our freezing toes by the fire, to cheer our spirits with a treat and get ready for the next kilometer.
Those bonfires were a lifeline to a weary boy, who wanted to give up but really couldn’t and who just needed a break before he could keep going.
Sometimes we don’t think we can make it and the path ahead feels long and hard and bitter cold. I’ve had circumstances lately that have felt like trudging across ice in the bitter dark of night and I’ve just looked to see if there was a bonfire ahead, some source of encouragement and strength to get through the next spot.
That’s when Scripture became amazingly meaningful. Verses I’ve heard a hundred times suddenly were full of power, granting energy to keep on going despite the trial. Little verses emailed were like a powerbar of spiritual fuel or a fire of warmth encouraging frozen limbs to keep on going. I felt like there were people on the sidelines handing out encouragement to keep on going no matter how hard it is.
Here are a few of my favorite powerbars that really sustained me through difficult times:
Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Matthew 11:29 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
If you’re feeling weary today, struggling with life, look to God’s Word for warmth, nourishment and renewed strength.
Again, thank you for sharing these thoughts that are so timely with the lessons God is teaching me.
it is so wonderful and powerful when the Holy Spirit brings to mind scriptures that lift us up in body and spirit, when sometimes we get down with the cares of life and how when we need it most we can be reading a verse in the Bible that we have read dozens of times and the Holy Spirit just makes it jump out at us and give us renewed encouragement and the strength to go another mile. Blessings Gloria
I had to smile, Heather, because all the verses you have listed are the ones that keep me going too. I have them all on index cards and pin one of them up at work. His Word indeed is a bonfire for the soul.