Like a Phoenix Rising

 

LIKE A PHOENIX RISING

    This piece of artwork in my daughter's home reminds me of a bird in motion, which makes me think of the story of the Phoenix rising from the ashes.

     In Greek mythology, there is a bird called the Phoenix.  At some point in its life, it burst into flames and burns up.  The Phoenix then rises from the ashes of its burning death and is reborn more beautiful than before.

      While the story of the Phoenix is only a myth, the work God does in the lifes of His children is very real.  By the power of God, you can rise from the ashes of your burning sorrow.  You can come out of it stronger and more beautiful than ever before and be a light in a dark world with your story of God's miraculous work in your life.

     One of my many favorite verses offers us God's variation of that myth with His real life promise.  In this verse, God is saying that He will "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.

     This verse tells us that when something bad happens in our lives, God will turn the bad into good.  He will lift something beautiful from those gray ashes and lift your heart from mourning and change your sad garment for one of praise.  The outcome of that miracle is that you will be planted by the Lord to stand firm in His righteousness, and all of this wonder and grace will result in God being glorified.  And - in the process, you will experience joy that is beautiful!

     To experience this wonder and grace and joy, we need to be open to God's work in our lives.  Sometimes people hang onto their grief, bitterness, and/or pain as if it was a life-ring keeping them afloat when all the time, there is a lifeboat floating right beside them, just waiting to pick them out of the tumultuous sea and bring them to safety.  That lifeboat is God's loving grace and plan to give them "beauty for ashes..."  

     There's an old song we used to sing that goes like this, "Let go and let God have His wonderful way.  Let go and let God have His way.  Your sorrows will vanish, your night turn to day; let go and let God have His way."

     God says, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness," Jeremiah 31:3.