Miracle Stories

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Faith Tried by Fire
By Lynn Wallace

Total darkness—falling trees—a cliff nearly claimed Larry's life.

Larry battled forest fires in California. As blinding smoke turned day to night, Larry’s knees twitched. “Oh God, please help me,” he cried out in fear.

Flares from the fires evaded his view. Falling trees resounded in his ears. His heart thumped In this blinding darkness, he attempted to check the fire lines.

About three in the night, he heard falling trees and crackling fires. Rest evaded him. His knees quivered when he arose at five and checked the fire lines.

As they faced this inferno, Dave and Larry said, “We’ll pray together every day.” When their hearts pounded and their bodies shook from fear, this gave them strength.

The ominous sound of falling trees gripped Larry's heart. Where are the trees? Where are the trees? Larry questioned and crept in the darkness.

Day dawned as dark as the night. Dangers lurked ahead though Larry escaped death that night.

As the sun hid behind the billowing smoke, Larry prayed every day, “Lord, keep me safe.” He turned off his flashlight to locate burning torches of trees. His heart skipped several beats when a falling tree trapped another fire-fighter. Will I be next? He pondered.

Will this darkness never end? Will this roaring fire trap me this time? Larry bit his upper lip, prayed silently, and braced himself as he stood before his men.

Someone said, “A transport truck veered off the road. A falling tree killed one driver.” His heart pounded. “Please Lord.” he prayed, “Do not let my truck swerve off this invisible road.

Smoke swallowed up oxygen in Larry's blindness. He choked as he struggled to breathe. He contracted bronchitis and pneumonia. Will sickness or falling trees claim my life first? “Lord, please help me.”

Struggling to breathe, Larry continued to fight fires. Foreboding sounds of falling trees resounded day and night. What about my family? He thought. How will they do without me? My insurance will pay bills, but my kids depend upon their Daddy.

Blinding smoke almost caused Larry to roll his crew over a cliff. A miracle spared him from disaster.

Larry slipped over the edge of the cliff as he inched toward it. Larry thought, This is the end. A little scrub oak caught him. Its branches rescued him from certain death. ”Thank you, Lord,” he said.

Larry's faith endured the test of fire. He said, "The Lord kept me calm. I knew if I showed fear, the others would pick it up quickly."

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