When there’s only an ember… God says, “I can work with that.”

When there’s only an ounce of life left, there’s still life. What is even a little bit alive is not dead. Nothing is pronounced dead until it is actually dead. Until it is actually dead, it is alive.

If you grew up a long time ago, like me, and you grew up in church you probably remember singing the old school song by Evie, “Pass It On”, around the campfire.

It only takes a spark
To get a fire going
And soon all those around
Can warm up in the glowing

I love candles. I can’t pass up a good candle. I tell my kids that when I’m old they better not let me live in a stinky house. I recently got a batch of tea light candles with wicks that were cut a little too short. The flame would get snuffed out by the wax as it melted. When I burn them, I have to pour a little of the melted wax out so the flame will continue to burn.

Once I get enough wax out of the candle for the flame to stay lit, it only takes just a little bit of the flame to keep the candle going and allow the wonderful smell to permeate my house.

It only takes a spark…

Even a little flame creates enough light and snuffs out darkness. Even a little flame is something God can work with.

“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed,but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:6-9

When there’s only an ember, there is a sign of life.
And God says, “I can work with that.”

Listen to these lyrics from a more contemporary tune, Audrey Assad’s Slow 

My faith is not a fire
As much as it’s a glow
A little burning ember
In my weary soul
And it’s not too much
It’s just enough to give me hope

If your heart is beating you are not dead. If your faith seems to be snuffed out by too much “melted wax”, dump some of it out and look for the ember. It’s not too little. It’s not too much. It’s all the hope we need. Just enough. Where there is an ember, there is hope. Where there is hope, there is life. Life for our marriage, life during an illness, life during a tragedy, life for our kids, life in hurting relationships. Where there is an ember… God can work with that.

I’m choosing to believe this today. Will you believe it with me?

~Andrea