I believe that there is beauty that comes from ashes. I believe that Jesus uses the darkest of things and turns them into something beautiful. But I also believe that there is beauty in ashes. I believe that even in our darkest, ugliest, feeling like we’re going to burn out moments, there is still beauty in them.
I’ve been thinking a lot about why I’ve named this blog “Beauty in the Ashes”. At first it came from the way that Jesus makes beauty from ashes. But as I look at the URL (beautyintheashes2017) that 2017 really sticks it to me.
2017 was easily one of the darkest and hardest years for my family and I, but it was also one of the most beautiful. Without going into a lot of detail, I’ve written a lot about it in the earliest posts, it was ugly and dark. It was full of reminders of our fallen world, hidden sins come to light, near death experiences, heartbreak, walking through fire, and almost giving up.
But there was also renewed strength, redemption, grace, mercy, and life being given again. In the midst of the fire, there were quiet warriors healing our wounds. In the heartbreak there were friends who were putting us back together. In our fear there were strangers reminding us of how great our God is.
It was a year that burned us, but in the middle of the fire, Jesus was showing us all the beautiful things He was doing.
So as I’m trying to think of ways to make this blog bigger and better, I’m being reminded of why I started it in the first place.
Although we’ll all feel like everything is on fire at some point in our lives, there’s still good things happening while we’re burning.
Jesus makes and gives us beauty from ashes, but He also gives us beauty in ashes.
I don’t know where you’re at in life, whether your burning or being restored. But I want to encourage you that it does get better, but only with Jesus. Our sufferings are designed to draw us closer to Him. He’s better than anything this world has to offer.
There’s still beauty in your ashes, friend.
He isn’t using this to set you ablaze.
He’s reminding you that He is better.
I pray that you’ll find the beauty in that. He’s the one that can put it all out and make it into something beautiful. Trust that. Trust Him. Because Jesus is better.
Beauty in the Ashes 