Beauty For Ashes
Today in my newsletter, I would like to ask a simple question-have you heard the phrase “Beauty from Ashes”? What does this mean to you? The best way I can explain what it means to me iswhen God takes something that is difficult or destroyed and transforms it into something beautiful. The idea could include a circumstance, a situation or even someone’s life that has been tarnished. One example that comes to mind is when Madison County experienced the tornadoesin Alabama on April 27, 2011. As I think back about that day-fear, devastation and certainly destruction are the first words that come to mind. The storm changed many lives that day. The E-5 tornado destroyed many homes, lives and forced people to change their way of living because of the mass destruction it produced. Google states: The day consisted of sixty-two tornadoes that swept across Alabama in an eighteen-hour period. The damage that it caused stretched across 1200 miles and at least 240 people unfortunately lost their lives.
The crisis took away hope for some because in the storm everything that they had worked for and built was quickly gone. The storm caused people to be unexpectedly uprooted and displaced for a period of time. The catastrophe brought with it various emotions that left many to doubt the uncertainty of their future. After sifting through the rubble for “things” that many thought they could salvage, all that was pulled from the debris were broken pieces. During this time, families realized that “things” actually did not matter, but lives do. Though it was a hard year, many were able to start over and rebuild their lives and find the “beauty from the ashes”. Soon after the tornados, homes were being rebuilt, lives were being restored and people gave their lives to the Lord because they knew they had been given a second chance. With this said, next time a horrible storm approaches your family, instead of losing hope and focusing on the darkest moment, don’t look through the rubble but look up and seek the one who has the power to show the beauty in the ashes.
To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory
Chaplain Tracey Burns
Reflection Questions
When you are faced with a storm, what is your first response- self-pity, blaming others, or do you find hope and put your faith into a higher power-Jesus?
Are you able to see the good in adversity or do you naturally see the bad?
How will you change your mindset and rely on Him instead of yourself when you face these trials?
Bonus: Great song (if you are interested) when you in your darkest moments and all hope is burnt to the ground, do you see the “Beauty in the Ashes”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_ytq3sSk3M&ab_channel=ChrisMcClarneyVEVO