Beauty in Ashes

     Everyone has trials and everyone undergoes struggles, but it’s what we do with those circumstances that will define who we become.

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me...


To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, 


To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, 


The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; 


That they may be called trees of righteousness, 
The planting of the LORD,

that He may be glorified."
  Isaiah 61:3

       Our troubles are like the ash after a great fire, or perhaps all that is left after the war.  However this war is not a physical war, but a spiritual one.  As our battles pile up one by one we may have moments when we ask “Why God?  How could any good come of this?” To the eye of the beholder there is not much beauty in ashes, but to God’s eye there is an in comparable beauty.   God gives us situations to not only make us more dependent on Him and His strength, but for us to be a light to help others.  But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10   When we endure trials and come out as more than conquers by the Lords grace we can look back and show others how they too can endure, and overcome. 

       So don’t mourn over your trials or let them come upon you with the spirit of heaviness, give them to God.  He wants to turn the cold winter night into a glorious spring morning. “weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalm 30: 5b

       When we use our “ashes” to learn from and use to help and guide others we in turn will see the beauty Christ always knew was there. 

The beauty IN ashes.