Day 5: Beauty From Ashes

The sound of my sonographer telling me “I can’t find a heartbeat,” not just once but twice, both within less than half a year, were words that unceasingly fought to consume me for months on end and still try to creep in to this day. Twice, my dream of having a child was set to flames right before me. There are some parts of life on earth we will never understand. Some parts will, quite frankly, bring us to our knees in anguish. Thankfully for us, God’s goodness is not dependent on our strength.

When disaster strikes, sometimes it can be difficult for us to admit and be honest with ourselves and our loved ones about what's going on. Acknowledging our suffering, however, does not mean we become defined by it. Rather, the humility of acknowledging our deep, everlasting need for a Savior frees us to receive His deep, everlasting grace. It’s a life-altering and glorious exchange of our ashes for His beauty. All it takes is the smallest breath of yes, and He draws us near to Him.

God’s goodness shines through the cracks of broken things, and not only does God create beautiful works in us from our ashes, but He can also use our circumstances to create a palpable work of beauty for others, often to help them navigate through a similar situation or help them feel comforted in their time of loneliness. God never intended us to stay stuck in our suffering. He calls us forward in life, He brings us to healing, and He reminds us that in Him we have a purpose. No matter how He does it, or in how many ways, God never wastes our pain.

The God of all miracles fights for you today and every day. There will never be anything so bleak that He cannot create a wondrous work from it. Rest in this promise today.