We have been burning wood this winter in our wood stove and when the wood has burned down you have these ashes left. I got to thinking about those ashes as I stared at them. According to the dictionary, ashes are remains of something destroyed; ruins. What once was is now ashes. The world is a broken place. There is despair, hearts that are broken, pain, lost and torn apart as if they are like those little ashes and in need of mending.
Is it possible it could ever look beautiful again?
The Bible says in Isaiah 61:3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion – 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. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor (NIV).
It may not look or feel like it could ever be whole again, but Jesus can give us beauty instead of ashes. He restores, redeems, gives us hope and mends our broken hearts. We can see God’s redemption throughout the Bible, and if we allow Him to continue to work in our life, we too can see His restoration in our life – taking what was and making it beautiful again. It may not happen overnight and it may take baby steps, but it is very much possible with Him. Do not lose hope. He is able to take what is broken and piece it into a beautiful masterpiece!
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for being my redeemer! Only You are able to take what has been broken in my life and make it beautiful again. I pray I will see beauty instead of ashes. In Jesus’ Name I Pray, Amen.
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