As I was driving in to work this morning, with tired eyes I gazed up into the morning sky. I suddenly saw an array of purples and oranges hovering over the sunrise. It looked like a sherbet sunset. My immediate reaction was, “Oh! How beautiful!” But then I remembered that the reason for this assortment of colors stemmed from massive fires throughout Southern California that are burning homes, vegetation, and everything else in their way. I suddenly felt bad for thinking that the sky looked beautiful. But then I thought, “Isn’t that just like God to still make something beautiful out of a horrible situation?” I thought of Isaiah 61:3 that states that God will “provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness 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.” God literally was creating beauty out of ashes. They were displaying the splendor of God.
There is an older song sung by Crystal Lewis called “Beauty for Ashes.” These are the lyrics:
“He gives beauty for ashes, Strength for fear
Gladness for mourning, Peace for despair
When sorrow seems to surround you
When suffering hangs heavy o’er your head
Know that tomorrow brings
Wholeness and healing
God knows your need
Just believe what He said
He gives beauty for ashes Strength for fear
Gladness for mourning, Peace for despair
When what you’ve done keeps you from moving on
When fear wants to make itself at home in your heart
Know that forgiveness brings
Wholeness and healing
God knows your need
Just believe what He said
He gives beauty for ashes, Strength for fear
Gladness for mourning, Peace for despair
I once was lost but God has found me
Though I was bound I’ve been set free
I’ve been made righteous in His sight
A display of His splendor all can see
He gives beauty for ashes, Strength for fear
Gladness for mourning, Peace for despair”
I think of this often when I think of all that my mom has been through. I often think that one day God IS going to bring beauty for ashes. As suffering hangs “heavy o’er [her] head,” I also pray that he will bring “wholeness and healing” so that we can see his goodness “in the land of the living” (Psalm 27:13).
Though sometimes all we can see, taste, and smell is the ash and smoke, God has beauty for ashes waiting when the smoke clears and the flames die away. For though, when the fire comes, everything is destroyed, we have faith and believe that he will beautifully rebuild us in Him.
