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Beauty For Your Ashes

Updated: Apr 13, 2020


I contemplated and came up with ideas and erased them. Pondered for weeks and days on what I could write? What could I say? What is it that you and I may need to hear and nothing felt quite right. The process just wasn't working for me. I sat still, I prayed and even turned to music. Just when I thought I had found a song that inspired me to write. I quickly found out that those ideas weren't meant for this moment either. I even searched within and thought of things I had gone through in my past and it wasn't until I logged in that it hit me. I was holding on to the old approaches and the old "tried and true methods" of doing things when in actuality God was trying to tell me that none of it is working because "I'M doing something new!"


Now talk about an "AHA" moment! For the past two months I've had the following scripture as my screen saver on my phone: Isaiah 43:18-19 New International Version (NIV) 18 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.


Can I just pause...and insert the "My God is Awesome" song for a second! Like really, the very thing I had been searching for this whole time was right in front of my face serving as a constant and daily reminder. And I almost missed it.


The scripture asks the question, "do you not perceive it?" To Perceive is to become aware of (something) by the use of one of the senses, especially that of sight. To come to realize, understand or discern. Which leads me to wonder what good things and new things have come into your life that you cannot even see or appreciate because you cannot forget the former things and continue to dwell on the past. God wants to do some new things for you and in your life! The question is will you allow him too?


Yes, whatever the situition was it hurt you. Yes, it changed you to a point that you no longer feel like the person you once were. Yes it may have even forced you to unbecome everything that you thought you were or were supposed to be. Your friends may have betrayed you, you may have lost a job, your significant other may have cheated and lied. You may have even been lied on and talked about. Someone may have even walked out on you. Your parents may not have been there for you. But for every trial, for every heartbreak, for every disappoinment, for every failure, for every loss what if I told you that God was in the midst of it all. Walking with you and molding you so that he could show you something new. Would you believe me? Could you perceive it? This life will never be without pain but sometimes pain produces purpose in your life. God wants to trade Beauty for your ashes!


In Isaiah 61:1-3 New International Version (NIV) it refers to this section as 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,[a] 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 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.


There is nothing on this earth like the favor and grace of God! I have been through some pain and some heartache. I have felt like giving up and throwing in the towel. I have repeatedly questioned God on things and have asked why me. After my tantrums I think to myself why not me? Everything I've been through is just a reminder that there still is a plan for my life.


God shows up to remind us that he is the one who heals broken hearts. Provides comfort, joy and light. We don't have to be held captive to the dark places of our past. We can make the choice to forget the former things and see that he is and wants to do a new thing in and for us. Are you willing to make the trade? I encourage you today to make the choice to accept Beauty For Your Ashes!



I dedicate this post to Sanaia Rae. In loosing you I gained a new meaning for life. Every beat of my heart is a reminder that you were hear with me even if it were for but a moment! Because of you and your siblings I continue daily to live on purpose!

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. To all of you who carry footprints on your heart, I stand with you!


With Gratitude,

LaNette


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