BEAUTY FOR ASHES

As we walk through life, many things seem to bring us down from time to time. Some really weigh us down and it seems like the cloud will never pass. I have good news for all of us. Nothing lasts forever. Like the sun rises and sets so will the issues we are facing start and end. Question is do we let these situations scar us forever?

After what I have just said one might think I have not been through my fair share of hard, difficult and depressing times. On the contrary, I have. Sometimes I wanted to get up really fast dust off and move on, sometimes I just lay there in the dirt for lack of strength to move on but mostly I needed a helping hand to help me get up. God has used many people in my life to help me get up and keep to the journey. Some of these people know others don't but the point here is that we cannot do it all alone.

One of the main reasons I get up time and time again is because I know somewhere deep within me, that I was created for more than just the hard times I face. God has an interesting way of making all things beautiful even those we want to never remember. We are important to him and for this reason He draws us more to Him so that we can do our part in making the earth he created look like what He intended it to.

Isn't it just awesome that God deems us so important?

Isaiah 61 is a great encouragement to me and I know this is so for most people. No one should go through life without knowing what this verse says about them. God considers us greatly, not just as his children but also co-creates with Him. Why do I say this, you would ask? Well in verse 1 to 3of Isaiah 61 the bible says that…..

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 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......"

To me this means that I have the potential and the ability to create a better place for all around me not relying on my strength only but through the strength that comes from God, through His anointing upon my life. I am the hope that the poor are waiting for, that I may tell them of a good God who cares for them. I am the instrument that God will use to heal the broken hearted, declare the captives free, release prisoners, comfort those mourning and for those who grieve to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes. I like that part. This means that you and I have the potential and ability to make someone smile even when they have no reason to. From my perspective I have great power at my disposal.

And the great thing about this is, it’s not rocket science. All need to do is believe it myself and when I tell it to others I am convinced that it is life changing. We need to believe that God can heal our broken hearts and take away the shame before we can tell it to somebody else. ?

What are we doing today that make others choose to stay with their broken hearts and hopeless? Are we being salt and light? Are we helping other be a “planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor?”

Be encouraged..

http://youtu.be/2CZ6IsGjEug