For years I’ve been carrying around the ashes of a relationship I wanted God to revive.
I kept the remnants of a fiery and painful loss close to my heart. I prayed over them. I protected them with words meant to hide the devastation I felt inside.
I held on to the ashes because I hoped, in time, the old relationship would somehow be restored exactly like it was.
But the other day, I realized God can’t resurrect what I refuse to give Him. He promises to make beauty from ashes, but He won’t take the ashes from me.
The term or idea that God will give us beauty for ashes comes from Isaiah 61:3. The NKJV translates it this way: “To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes…”
As I studied this verse, there is so much more here! In the scriptures and in history one of the greatest outward signs of mourning was shown by dumping ashes on your head.
The word translated as ‘beauty’ in the NKJV is more closely translated in the NLT: “To all who mourn in Israel, He will give a crown of beauty for ashes…”
Our losses, sufferings, and mournings for things dead and gone become a CROWN of beauty from God when we give them to Him! The passage goes on to promise oil that provides healing and a reduction of the friction in a damaged situation, and a mantle of praise to cover or replace the torn garment that was rent in half when things went south.
If you are mourning a loss, study this passage, and hold tight to the promise that God will do much MORE than simply make beauty from the ashes!