Beauty for Ashes

No eye has seen, no ear has heard what God has prepared for those who love Him. 

1 Corinthians 2:9 

Do you believe that God has something amazing planned for you? This Scripture tells us that we can’t even get our minds wrapped around what He has prepared for those who love Him. For many years I believed I didn’t deserve what God had prepared for me. I assumed that because I did not grow up in church every Sunday and because of past sin, this promise was not for me. Nothing could be further from the truth.

God has taken my ashes and exchanged them for something much more beautiful. The fact that I am even writing this devotional is living proof that He really does take our ashes in exchange for beauty. He is able to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes (Isaiah 61:3). I could not share my story had I never been through the mountains and valleys in my life.

As I let the Father heal my wounds and encourage me through His Word, I realize part of His plan. I believe with everything in me that He wanted me to share my past failures with you so that His name would be glorified. There is no way my life would be restored if it were not for the redemptive love of the Father.

Those places that have been long devastated in your life can be restored by the life changing blood of the Lamb. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated (Isaiah 61:4). Just as we have been healed by His wounds, others can be restored when we show them the scars from our wounds that God has so graciously healed.

Remember, life is a journey and our story is not over. May you and I walk with our heads held high today and thank God for another day on this journey. He has so much planned for us. May the dust of His footprints cause us to get dusty because we are following so closely behind Him down the roads of life. Just ask God to begin that healing journey today!

Carrie Wright