Beauty for ashes is what God promises to give to us. (Isaiah 61: 3)
Darkness isn’t always scary! God will oftentimes allow darkness to bring us good, to draw us deeper into Him. And when we are in that space, we don’t have to be so quick to rush off to find the light switch, for in that space He’s shaping us; He’s healing us, and making us even more beautiful. Beauty can come from darkness when we choose to give God our ashes.
A couple of weeks ago I found myself in a “dark” space, and so I reached out to a friend for prayer. Sure, Corona is wreaking havoc in the world, but I am pretty sure that wasn’t why I was in that space. My friend recorded her prayer and sent it to me, and that was the start of a beautiful exchange!
As many of us know, life is not always “happy”. Sometimes it hurts, sometimes it’s hard, sometimes it’s dark. It leaves a mark, like ashes of pain in the deepest parts of our hearts, where no one but God can really see.
You may understand if you’ve ever felt these ashes:
- You’ve walked through the fire of hard situations and wondered if you’d come out on the other side.
- You’ve been treated in ways you don’t deserve.
- You’ve been lied on
- You’ve lost a loved one
- You’ve been betrayed by people you call your own
The Beautiful Exchange
As I listened to the prayer my friend sent, something beautiful started to happen to me. With every tear that fell from my eyes, it felt like an exchange took place. God was taking away my pain, and my heart started to come alive. I didn’t instantly feel happy, but my heart no longer felt heavy. I could almost feel refreshing water running through my veins. And for the rest of the time, God ministered to my heart in a way I’ve never felt before. God gave me the beauty of His presence. I’ve never felt so seen and cared for! In the midst of darkness God met me, and at no point did I ever feel like He left. My relationship with Him has grown and I feel so much closer to Him!
God never intends for us to stay stuck in our pain and sorrow. He wants to take our ashes and give us beauty. Whether it is grace to go through our situation, peace, His presence or hope. Whatever that “beauty” may look like for you, God wants you to choose to give Him your ashes so He can crown you with beauty. Where I had ugly marks I now have beauty marks. Marks that remind me that God is redeeming what I’ve suffered and can heal me from the inside out. Maybe your heart feels as though it needs an awakening, and you feel like healing is impossible. But let me tell you, the God who created you and gave His life for you on that cross is able to restore you and give you beauty for your ashes. You have to be willing to give Him your ashes. That’s the only way the beautiful exchange can take place.
Respond:
Today spend some time in the presence of God and do some soul searching. Is there anything in your heart that needs healing? It could be pretty simple, but give it to God just the same. Don’t let the little things pile up and turn into something huge. Deal with them now!
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Angelisa is a Jesus enthusiast, Worship leader & Christian youth leader. She considers herself to be the old-fashioned type of girl who loves spicy food and belly bottom laughter. Among her passions are singing, working with children, and encouraging others.