Pile of Ashes
Tuesday, April 27
Pile of Ashes
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord…to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness…. Isaiah 61:2-3
Recently I was praying for someone who has been going through and my heart ached. As I upheld them in prayer, I exclaimed, “God, help them navigate through this pile of ashes!” Each of us reading today can identify with this pile of ashes. It represents heartache, broken relationships, broken promises, wickedness, bygone dreams and poor life choices that had resulted in devastation. Momentarily, my heart despaired, and I could no longer pray and I began to enter the vicious cycle of if only. If only help had come sooner, I considered. If only they had not taken that detour … if only … if only. Desolation tried to settle on my heart like a wet blanket, smothering my hope and causing my thoughts to spiral downwards. I sighed a deep sigh. If only …
As I spiraled down I gasped for an air of hope to bring me back to the top. My thoughts were interrupted as the promises of Isaiah 61 came to mind. Reading this passage we are reminded that Jesus came so that the broken-hearted could be healed, those who mourn will soon dance and the captives could be set free. I remembered that He was anointed and qualified to give beauty instead of ashes, joy instead of mourning and praise instead of despair.
Today, your pile of ashes may seem insurmountable but take courage because they are not in the eyes of God. He could transform them into something beautiful. Nothing is impossible for my God and, with renewed hope, I proclaimed that fact. Our God brings beauty out of the ashes and I dare to believe it.