All Gone

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;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.

Isaiah 61: 2c-3 NKJV

I think this may be one of the most often, overlooked promises in God's Word. We are quick to grab onto beauty for ashes - especially when we are going through a trial by fire - but do we fully comprehend what that means?

We tend to think that it has something to do with rising up out of the ashes, like the phoenix. That somehow God will take the ashes of our burned-out lives, our burned-up dreams, and use what's left to rebuild. No, I don't think so.

It doesn't say He will give us beauty FROM the ashes. It says He will give us beauty FOR ashes. He's not making something out of the old stuff. When we bring Him the ashes of our lives, He gives us something beautiful in exchange. When we understand that, we are able to better comprehend the miracle of being made new. 

2nd Corinthians 5:17 NKJV tells us, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. In other words, the ashes are gone.

Prayer:

Father,

           Open our eyes of understanding to see the Truth of Your Word. We give You glory and honor and praise for the beauty we have received in exchange for the ashes of our past lives. Thank You for making us new. Give us the courage and the strength to walk in it. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen