When a lamp burned down to the end of the wick, it would only sputter and smoke without making any light. Since such a smoldering wick was useless, it was put out and thrown away. The smoking flax represents people whose lives are worn out; there is more smoke than light coming from them. Their testimony has become ineffective. Perhaps you feel like a smoking flax. Has your light simmered down until it just smokes, almost gone out? Are you discouraged because your light does not shine brightly?

Our failures never have to be final! John Mark was burning brightly at one point, but began sputtering out. He left Paul and Barnabas while they were on their first missionary journey and returned home (Acts 13:13). But later Paul could write that Mark was profitable to him for the ministry (2 Tim. 4:11). Somewhere along the way John Mark had his lamp trimmed, perhaps by Barnabas. The Lord had compassion on a “smoking flax” named Peter (Mt. 26:69–75). The Lord had compassion on a “smoking flax” named Jonah and used him to bring revival to a large city (Jon. 1–4). How many times have we seen our light nearly extinguished? How many times have we been all smoke and no light, with our faith and our witness grown dim along life’s way? It would have been easy for the Lord to quench our feeble flame and simply snuff us out, but He is always willing to forgive us, restore us, and rekindle us when we call on Him, confessing our sins (1 Jn. 1:9).

He will never quench a smoking flax but will fan it into a flame. The word quench means “to put out or to extinguish.” The Lord does not snuff out that smoldering wick. He does not finish it off without a care. Instead, He comes to trim and rekindle its weak flame. He comes to make us useful again. The Lord is able to fan your spark of faith into a flame for His glory!