Finding The Beauty in The Ashes
Life is full of ups and downs, joys and sorrows. At times, we may find ourselves in the midst of pain, loss, or brokenness. But even in the darkest moments, there is hope. What does it mean when people say “He will give you beauty for ashes" as portrayed in scripture. I want to share how God's promises of restoration and redemption can bring hope and healing to your life.
God promises restoration to us! That means no matter what has been taken from us. Our identity, our self esteem, our confidence, our joy…. No matter what God promises He will take the pain and make something beautiful out of it. Isaiah 61:3 (NIV) proclaims, "to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." This verse reminds us that God can transform our brokenness into something beautiful. He offers us hope and restoration, replacing our ashes with a crown of beauty. No matter what we have been through, God's grace has the power to bring healing and renewal.
Even when we are going through suffering or we have been diagnosed with an illness that caught us off guard, or our life has been turned upside down. Even in the times of suffering, He promises He will be with us! In the book of Job, we witness a powerful example of God's faithfulness in the midst of suffering. Despite losing everything, Job remained steadfast in his trust in God. In Job 42:10 (NIV), it is written, "After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before." This story teaches us that even in our darkest moments, God is with us, and He can turn our ashes into a testimony of His faithfulness.
God is a God of New Beginnings and in Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV) it says, "Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." These verses remind us that God's mercies are renewed each day. He offers us new beginnings and the opportunity to rise from the ashes of our past. Through His love and faithfulness, He can bring beauty and purpose to our lives, even after seasons of pain or failure.
There is healing power in God’s love. That song “The Power of Love” it is true and we have scripture to back it up. Promises to stand on in His word that say His love is healing to our hearts! He is not far from us!! Psalm 147:3 (NIV) assures us that God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. When we bring our brokenness and pain to Him, He can mend our hearts and bring healing to our deepest wounds. His love has the power to restore us from the inside out and bring forth beauty from the ashes of our lives.
And just in case you may think you’ve made too many mistakes, your life has taken too many turns, there’s not redeeming the life you thought you’d once have….I am here to tell you that there is redemption through Christ Jesus! This is the most remarkable example of beauty for ashes, found in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Through His death and resurrection, He offers us forgiveness, salvation, and the hope of eternal life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) declares, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" Through our relationship with Christ, we are transformed and given a new identity. He takes our brokenness and redeems it, bringing forth beauty, purpose, and eternal significance.
So, in the midst of life's trials and tribulations, we can find solace and hope in the promise that God will indeed give us beauty for the ashes of the life we once had. God's love, faithfulness, and redemptive power can transform our pain into a testimony of His grace and restoration. As we surrender our brokenness to Him, He will turn it into a beautiful masterpiece!
Marion