Beauty From Ashes

 

Beauty from Ashes

In the book of Isaiah, God makes a fascinating promise.  He says He will give His hurting children, ”beauty for ashes.”  This means He will turn something that seems bad into something good. 

In Greek mythology, there’s a bird called the Phoenix.  At some point in its life, the bird bursts into flames.  The Phoenix then rises from the ashes of its flaming death and is reborn more beautiful than before. 

 

            While the story of the Phoenix is only a myth, the work God does in the lives of His children is very real.  By the power of God, you can rise from the ashes of your burning sorrow.  You can become stronger and more beautiful than ever before, and, yes, you can once again be filled with joy.

 Do you think the Phoenix had a story to tell to her other bird friends after her miraculous transformation?  Can you imagine her describing the fear and pain she felt as she endured the horrible flames?  And then when she rose from the smoking ashes with singed feathers and burning feet – how might she explain her deadly experience?

When her friends saw how she overcame such a fiery death and rose from the hot ashes more beautiful than before, do you think they listened more closely to what she had to say?  Do you think her story might have made an impact in their own lives?

 “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 NKJV

           When beauty rises from ashes and joy replaces mourning, people notice.  They’ll see a difference in your life and they’ll listen more intently to your story.  Like never before, you’ll be in a position to be called a “tree of righteousness,” and your story will bring glory to Almighty God in ways you never imagined.

We were placed on this earth to have a right relationship with God and to bring glory to His name.  Let’s rise from our ashes and proclaim our beautiful story to a watching world.

             Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

» List things in your life you consider to be ashes (failures, losses, heartaches, hardships, etc):

» Can you think of good things that have come into your life from, or as a result of those ashes?

» In what way does your story bring glory to God?