August 8, 2024. Writing that date down gave me pause this morning. One year since the fire. One whole year. It is so calm today, the ocean is flat and beautiful. The sun is shinning brightly with a few clouds in the sky. One year ago was so different. The way the wind whipped was wild, (I mean obviously a whole town burnt down.) But, not just the weather. I am different, life is different. On August 8, 2023 as I sat around waiting to hear if school was cancelled or not, I wrote this in my journal: “I have God’s divine nature within me and when I am not enough, He is. When I fall short, He rises within me.” Little did I know that by 8 o’clock that night, for the next several months how deeply I would be relying on God to be enough, to rise within me. And how beautifully He rose. How purposefully and gracefully He used me in the coming days, weeks, and months.
In my escape, I somehow decided to grab my journals and I am so grateful for that. The words I had journaled prior to the fire point to just how good God is; how faithful He is. And it allowed me to keep on writing the story, keep on speaking His truth. Eleven days after the fire, I had a moment to stop and be still. I picked up my journal again. The first thing I wrote down was this verse, one of my favorites from Ephesians:
For you are God’s handiwork created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God created in advance for you to do. Ephesians 2:10
I continued on, reflecting on that day: “But, God’s presences was with me, all along. He made a way. And it’s just crazy, only God, to think that He placed me here, in this place, in this community for such a time as this. I am in awe, complete awe.” I’m not quite sure how, but even in the midst of all that chaos, I somehow was still able to be in awe of God. And I believe that is what got me through. My complete dependency on Him allowed me to see Him working so clearly all around me. It was a blessing He gave me in those days, and one He continues to bestow upon me today.
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light, on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. Isaiah 9:2
Be the light that is what Jesus has called us to.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14
Lahaina was a city lit up, a beacon of light on an island. But, so much of it is gone, and with it, the light went to. The people here, the community, they are resilient, they unified like nothing I have ever seen. As Christ followers, we have a lot to learn when it comes to unity. And it is our job to bring people together, to show the world the source of true and everlasting light. Just keep watching, because God is moving here. Lahaina will rise. God is at work in us all to bring beauty out of ashes. He is at work in us all to be the light. And as He is sending me, sending all of us to be the light, we have this promise:
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” John 20:21
He gives us a peace that surpasses all understanding, a peace that allows us to be the light in the darkness. I wrote down this quote 20 days after the fire and I am just going to let it speak for itself. It was relevant then and it is still so very relevant today.
God may allow you to go through dark places for one of two reasons: (1) so you can learn who he is and strengthen your faith in him, or (2) so you can actually be positioned for greater influence. Joseph was sent away from his hometown and family to Egypt, and David and his friends were sent to Babylon in the most traumatic circumstances because God wanted to send light into dark places. If you shine with his light, you should not be surprised to go to dark places too. ~Chris Tiegreen
We are predestined. So much of Romans speaks to this. There is an abundance of hope in the glory to come, the glory that we have in Christ Jesus alone. Our hope, our joy, our peace, it comes from the faith we have in God’s promises. What Romans, what so much of the New Testament makes clear though is that we have to walk through the darkness to get to that glory. But, simultaneously, we don’t have to live in that darkness.
The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6
Just as I am uniquely positioned with an opportunity to continue to be the light, so are you. My story, it is just one of millions in this world. I am just one light in the Kingdom of God. This world needs all of us. We all need to intentionally choose joy. That doesn’t me we don’t deal with what comes our way. We have to. But both joy and pain can occur simultaneously. And we have the power of Christ in us to choose joy, to be the light…no matter what our outside circumstances are. We aren’t in it alone, God is in the fire with us. He rises within us.
Blessings and Love
Radical Road 