Beauty For Ashes
Isaiah 61:3
“To give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes.”
Have you ever looked back on a time in your life that felt so dark and broken and realized there was a greater purpose for that pain in suffering, you just couldn’t see it then? Maybe everything in life seemed like it was falling apart and you couldn’t figure out why, or what you were doing wrong. So often in life it can feel like there’s no light at the end of the tunnel, no hope for the future, no good news at all. Maybe you’ve felt this way before, watched someone you love struggle with this, or maybe you are dealing with this right now. I’m here to tell you there is always good news and you are never without hope.
I never imagined myself getting any tattoos, and was never really a big fan of other people having them. For two years now I proudly wear the words “Beauty for Ashes” on my left forearm. This is not a very common phrase, especially to non-believers, which is part of the reason I love it. So many people ask what that means and the door immediately opens to a conversation of how God transformed my life. I grew up extremely close to my family, my parents were my good friends, and my three younger siblings were my best friends. Our cross country road trips, game night traditions, dinner time devotions had solidified the idea in my head that my family was perfect and could never really let me down. Sophomore year of high school I devastatingly realized no one was perfect and if anyone was broken it was my family. Marriage troubles led to separation and eventually divorce in a season of covid and long-term isolation from my other social outlets. I felt confused, alone, and wrecked. The family I once was most proud of felt distant. It was in this time that Christ was all I had, that I realized Christ was all I needed. My family was in ashes, but now almost 5 years later we can all say that time drew us closer to what mattered most, the only thing that could never let us down. Beautiful relationships full of true joy and hope came from the ashes of my imperfect family.
Many times it’s not until we look back at the broken roads we’ve traveled that we see the destination was worth it. Often that destination is not what we expect but is rather a perfect picture of God’s will always being better than our own. Ultimately any hardship endured for the sake of Christ is worth the eternal glory united with Him, but many times we can see glimpses of that glory here on earth. Think about Abraham and Sarah who wanted so badly to have a child. They lacked trust and sought their own solutions. God used that test of patience and trust to give them Isaac, and as many offspring as the stars in the sky. Think about the many people healed in the old testament, the lepers, the blind, the lame, who have spent their lives without hope and then received not only healing but salvation. Consider Mary and Martha who lost their brother and questioned Jesus, only for them to witness Him raise a man from the dead.
Isaiah 61 is called ‘The Year of the Lord’s Favor’ in the English Standard Version, and it is a beautiful reminder that the Lord has not and will not forget you. We are His chosen children whom He loves. Any hardship you are going through, whether divorce, sickness, loss of a friend, addiction, etc., is all a part of God’s will for your life. The one who created you and loves you has a bigger and better plan than you could ever think or imagine. Hold fast to that truth in each season, and keep looking for the beauty from the ashes.
“He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion- to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” Isaiah 61:1-3