Draw Close to the Fire – Terry Wardle - A Book of Drawing Close to God and Restoring the Broken

Given to me as a gift with the encouragement as a ‘must read’ I began to work my way through ‘Draw Close to the Fire’. The reality is that once started, I had trouble putting it down! Yet, I knew I had to reflect and process the depth of such carefully spoken words if I was to grow from it. His wounds, his thoughts and understanding as it relates to brokenness – a subject any human being who is being honest with themselves can relate to at some point (perhaps many points) in life.

Terry speaks a fresh to the subject of failure, hurt and pain with a heart for Jesus in a way that resonates with many in dealing with their emptiness and brokenness. He capture well the Biblical understanding of our humanity (in all is weakness) and blends it extremely well with recent philosophy and counseling. In the end, it is the Holy Spirit that actually does the healing within our lives only as one surrenders to him. Beyond a simple recognition of Christ within a believer’s life, he quick to underscore the real key lies in ‘intimacy’ – “Know about the Lord and serving Him faithfully are not enough to sustain people through a season of darkness. You and I must grow to know Him intimately” (page 34).

The book is really not a self-help book on overcoming hurt and brokenness (in what Wardle borrows from ‘St. John of the Cross’ - “the dark night if the soul”) but a writing that calls the follower of Christ to complete surrender – “Not just His words and works – you need Jesus himself. You need to be consumed in Him, the hope of glory” (page 44). Remaining faithful to a host of scriptural text, he suggest the work of the Holy Spirit within the believer’s life is taking one to that place where they may really ‘know’ Jesus –"Opening yourself to the instruction of the Holy Spirit will reshape your life. He will teach you that intimacy, not ministry, is to be the consuming passion of the believer" (page 64).

One of the most challenging parts of helping others is found in ‘working through ones past’ in relation to other people (i.e. family, friends, and enemies). This of course is only possible as it is reveal or recalled. Methods are not always agreed upon among counselors in bringing forth the past, however most realize the benefit it provides. Without writing a complete text book on the subject (not the intend of this work) he has highlighted the need to move beyond at some point, only after it has been adequately dealt with – “Too often we fail to resolve our conflicts, moving on in life without adequate reconciliation and in some cases restoration. Sometimes our solution is simply to avoid those people and move into the future. When we do, however, the unresolved issues become obstacles to our spiritual growth and a seedbed for the enemy’s work” (page 107).

If there is any thought of self-help (although only in surrender does one really find God’s complete healing), Wardle writes a chapter on ‘Spiritual Disciplines Move You Toward Christlikeness’. It’s not so much about ‘doing’ but in ‘being’ you grow in intimacy with the Godhead and are able to process the pain brokenness along the way. Drawing from the writings of Robert Mulholland, he suggests the correct term for this process is ‘Spiritual Formation’ – “a process of being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ for the sake of others” (page 217).

Through the book Wardle is relentless in drawing the reader back to both the words and nature of God – Words that remind one of their value in Christ, the eternal hope found in Christ, the need for forgiveness, restoration and grace, and that the real battle is spiritual, not simply emotional or physical. Building on the words of the apostle Paul in Ephesians six, we’re reminded just how valued the armour of God is when life doesn’t always work the way in which we would like.

I can only express my joy in reading the book as one who from time-to-time finds my world very fragile and occasionally broken! First, it is somewhat reassuring the battle I face are pretty much common ground among us all. Secondly, to be reminded of the love and acceptance we find in Christ provides an amazing amount of hope and healing for the journey. Third, although I certainly would recommend this book to one who at this moment finds themselves ‘in the dark night,’ I would also encourage anyone to invest in this as a resource to build upon no matter where in life they are at.

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