There has been a lot of coverage in the news lately about the wildfires in Manchester. They have been raging since Sunday, with no sign of any rain to put them out. The ground, already dry as tinder, just keeps baking and almost invites the flames, while emergency services, and now the military fight to drench and quell them.

Another story has been in the news lately, about fire; as the emergency services, and the first responder come under attack by the media for their actions during the Grenfell Tower fire. This attack is completely unfounded and ludicrous, but that’s for another post.

As fire consumes the news this week, it got me thinking about it. Fire is something that I have always been scared of, and the thought of that wildfire raging on, petrifies me. I have been in two fires in my life, (luckily no one was hurt), and these experiences have shaped my feelings on fire.

While a number of people talk about the fire brigade and men in uniform with excitement and glee, whenever I see a fire engine, it sends ice cold shivers of fear through me. As a writer, I have a very vivid imagination, and this only adds fuel to the flames of my fear, as I imagine what they could be responding to.

Fire is a dangerous thing, when it is wild and out of control. It burns with a fierce heat and destroys everything it touches, and yet, even in that destruction, there is always a chance for new life and growth, even if it may not seem like it at the time.

As I look at the news footage of the wildfires, my heart goes out to those people and animals evacuated from their homes. It breaks for all of the wildlife and flora and fauna, which will be killed by the blaze, and I pray that the emergency services, and the army are able to get the fire out as quickly as possible, and I pray for those whose homes are at risk, because that’s all I can do.

When the storms of life come at me; when the wildfires seem to be raging in my life, all I can do is to trust. Trust God with my everything, and pray that He will bring me through this time, just as He has done before.

If you’re in your own storm, I pray that you will find peace, and if you need to, reach out, because there is always someone there to listen if you do.