You catch that sharp scent on the wind, acrid, close, uninvited, and your heart cannot help but beat a little faster. The smallest whiff of smoke can pull the mind straight into the thick of the flame, can it not? And now you are asking, in the quiet of your spirit, for two things: safety, and rest. Two things that often seem to flee from one another when the night air carries a threat. But with our Lord, they are never far apart.
Think for a moment of that ancient promise, spoken to a trembling people who had every earthly reason to be afraid: When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. The Lord did not say you would never smell the smoke. He did not say the heat would not reach your face. But He gave His own word that the fire would have no power to consume you. The very breath of the Almighty stands between you and the devouring flame. He is not a far-off spectator, wringing His hands; He is nearer than the scent upon your clothes, a wall of safety around your room, your home. If He permits the fire to prowl at the door, He will surely keep it from crossing the threshold of His own will for you.
And as for rest, ah, that is a gift straight from the heart of Jesus. Do you remember how He spoke to the weary ones who came to Him? I will give you rest, He said, not as something earned, but as something bestowed. The same voice that once hushed a howling tempest with a word is the voice that speaks peace to your unquiet soul tonight. The danger may be real, but the Saviour is more real still. You may lie down in the shadow of the Almighty, though the world outside be full of alarms, and His peace, a peace that passes all understanding, shall keep your heart and mind through Christ Jesus.
Picture a little child walking through a dark wood at midnight, clinging to her father’s hand. She hears strange rustlings in the leaves, sees shapes she cannot name; but she does not pull away and run, for that strong hand holds her fast. The darkness is just as dark, but the father’s nearness transforms it. So it is with you now. The smell of burning may linger, but your Father’s hand is clasped around your own, and He has promised never to loosen His grip.
Now, breathe deep. Breathe out the fear, and breathe in the quiet faithfulness of the One who neither slumbers nor sleeps. You have asked Him to keep you safe, and He has never yet betrayed a trusting soul. You have asked Him for rest, and He who folded His own body into a boat during a storm will fold you too in the hush of His love.
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Lord Jesus, our strong tower and our hiding place, we lift up this dear one to Thee in the quiet of this moment. Thou knowest the smell that troubles, the danger that lingers near, and the weariness that cries out for sleep. Spread Thy sheltering wings over this home. Let no evil befall, no flame draw nigh. And in the stillness, breathe a rest so deep and so divine that every anxious thought is swallowed up in peace. We lean on Thee, for Thou art faithful. Amen.