Fire refines. It doesn’t have to destroy you. (by Jasper Tan) Kevin Downswell’s “Higher (From the Fire)” is a powerful mix of Afrobeat and Soca music combined, aimed at praising God and also serving as a testament to one’s resilience, spiritual growth, and transformation through hardship. The song reminds us of 1 Peter 1:6–7 — “The tested genuineness of your faith… may be found to result in praise and glory and honor.” It talks about our refinement through adversity, using “fire” (0:18, 1:46) as the central metaphor of the song. Fire, which usually correlates with destruction, takes on another meaning: instead of being destroyed by life’s trials, we are forged by fire, refining us in the process to make us feel “better” (0:20, 1:28). This process takes place when we learn to put our faith in God and trust him that he will never abandon us during our difficult times. The song helps us acknowledge the presence of God “in the fence” with him during the struggle (1:53). These trials th...