Beauty from Ashes
We live in a dark world. Everyone who has watched the nightly news or read the newspapers knows this fact. But have you ever wondered who the people in the news are? Have you stopped to consider what’s really going on in their hearts? Or are they only names to you? Names that are then forgotten the moment another evil deed is exposed?
All of us have been wronged, betrayed, or violated at least once in our lives. Some would blow their whistle and demand justice no matter how delayed it is. But once justice has been served, they still have that bruise in their hearts for the rest of their lives. Others wouldn’t get the justice that they wanted and would only be another number in the ever-growing list (or statistics) of victims of heinous crimes. But a number would choose to stay quiet, overcome by shame, hoping that time will heal their wounds.
I met Frances (not her real name) in one of my classes last school year. She’s a good student, participative in extracurricular activities, and she has a lot of friends. You won’t even see her walking around campus without a smile on her face. On the outside, you’d think she’s fine. In fact, she looks like she’s just having the time of her life. And that’s exactly what she wants you to think.
Deep inside, she’s crying for help but she can’t trust anyone. For 14 years, she’s built a great wall around her, a wall composed not of mortar and bricks but of anger, bitterness, shame, and self-sufficiency. She figured that time will heal her wounds and while she’s waiting for time to do its job, she’s working on hardening her heart so she can no longer feel hurt or pain.
Contrary to popular belief, time doesn’t heal wounds. It only buries them for a while but they have a way of catching up with you in the end. And it’s catching up with Frances right now.
Despite all that, Frances is not just another hopeless case. In fact, it’s when we’re broken that we realize we have nothing to lose and we discover something we should have known all along—we are loved and God is the healer. There is nothing too great for Him to restore. All your hurts, burdens, and sorrows can be healed by the Great Healer. No wall is too strong or hard for His grace, mercy, and love to break through.
Find it hard to believe? Isaiah 61:1 says, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound” (emphasis mine). Jesus is the only one that can set us free. He heals even the deep places if only you’ll let Him.
Isn’t it ironic that the things that we work so hard to keep away from Jesus are the very things we should give up to Him? Why are we so focused on holding on to our bruises and wounds? Why do we choose to hold on to our ashes? What exactly are we protecting ourselves from? If God be with us, who can be against us?
I’ve always wondered why this world is so full of hurting people. Maybe it’s because we prefer to close our hearts so there’s no way anyone can ever hurt us. Yes we can no longer feel hurt or pain, but we can also no longer hear God when He speaks to us or love others when they’re crying out for love or receive love when someone wants to love us. It’s a cycle that’s been going on since the beginning of time. But God offers a beautiful exchange. The passage goes on in verse 2: “…to give a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit…”
He’s offering this to you right now. Will you take it?
