Beauty From Ashes

Last night as Tracy and I were sitting on the deck you could see the hints of color in the sky as the sunset was forming. Our house blocks the view from the deck so we went to the front porch and watched the most amazing transition as God painted the sky.

The colors were deep and rich reds, orange and yellow. The silhouettes of neighboring trees added to the scene and we watched as the stunning sunset appeared.

He had captured our full attention as we watched, not wanting to miss a moment. I took pictures, but they couldn’t display the real beauty that was unfolding in front of us.

Tracy mentioned that the fires in the area this week had added to the colors and it made me think of the bible passage in Isaiah 61:1-3 which reads:

The Year of the Lord’s Favor

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 brokenhearted,
    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.

That passage is so full of promise and as I watched the sunset last night I thought of how many of those promises He has fulfilled in my life. I have been set free. He has comforted my broken heart and provided all I need. He has brought beauty from ashes in my life. He has given me joy instead of mourning and He has given me many reasons to praise.

We, like last night’s sunset, are to display His splendor. We get to show the world what God can and will do in our lives. Our pain and problems have a purpose.

If you are in a time of mourning, despair or brokenness, know that God will not leave you there. He will make beauty from the ashes and as He does, you and others will see His work displayed in your life. The passage is titled the Year of the Lord’s favor. Claim that! Claim His promises and know that He will make beauty from the ashes.

My Prayer

Father, I’m in awe of your artistry not only in the sunset, but in the lives of those You love. You make all things new and I thank You that we can hold tight to Your word and know that You will fulfill each and every promise that You have made. I pray that those who are struggling right now will trust Your word and find hope and peace in knowing that the You will make beauty from their ashes. Let the sunsets remind us that You are God and I pray that we will never lose the awe of Your splendor. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Where does my help come from?

Isaiah 61: 1-3

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 brokenhearted,
    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.