Ashes, we all know what they are. Naturally, it’s the residue left after something has burned. Biblically, ashes were a mark of grief, humiliation, and repentance. The phrase “beauty for ashes” always caught my eye, but sometimes you find yourself experiencing things first hand to truly understand. 

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I wish I could say this came out of an amazing encounter with the Lord. Instead, this article came about when my backyard caught fire last month due to my negligence. I was not paying close enough attention. All I was trying to do was burn brush, but my yard was so dry the fire quickly went out of control. Thank God for neighbors! Every time I walked to my backyard, there was a rather large black, ashy patch of scorched earth.

Fast forward one month later. After occasional rain and blankets of snow, lush grass and flowers have finally emerged from the ashes. The fire burned away the once dead and dry earth and actually made room for life. 

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the suffering and afflicted. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted, to announce liberty to captives, and to open the eyes of the blind.  He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of God’s favor to them has come, and the day of his wrath to their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel he will give: beauty for ashes; joy instead of mourning; praise instead of heaviness. For God has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory. (Isa 61:1-3 LBT)

This message was a prophecy about the ministry of the coming Messiah. Jesus came and His death, burial, and resurrection is good news to all who suffer and are afflicted. He comforts the broken. He liberates the captives. He brings favor to his people and vengeance to His enemies. The last part of this verse has always been my favorite. “To all who mourn, he gives beauty for ashes, joy for mourning, and praise for heaviness.”

I believe we have all been in a state of mourning. Some are mourning an election that didn’t turn out as we prayed and hoped. Some are mourning loss of relationships and community, as Covid forced shutdowns and restrictions. Some lost businesses or were financially impacted. Some are mourning the loss of loved ones. Whether it’s Covid-related or sickness in general, death hurts. Naturally we mourn the loss of our loved ones lives. We miss their companionship. It becomes hard to find that joy and give praise. Thankfully it is the Lord Jesus who anoints our heads with oil. He crowns us with beauty, and raises us up when we are sitting in the ash heap. He gives us joy and clothes us with garments of praise instead of heaviness and depression. 

How does beauty come from ashes anyway?

We have never been guaranteed an easy Christian walk with no trials and no affliction. Rather, He says we will go through times of trouble, but He also promises to help us as we do.

The good (righteous) man does not escape all troubles—he has them too. But the Lord helps him in each and every one. (Ps 34:19 LBT)

And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose. (Rom. 8:28 AMP)

Here is another verse, we are probably familiar with. God makes all things work together for good for those who love Him. We understand this verse to mean that He works through good circumstances and bad according to His plan and purpose. But the next verse explains why.

For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. (Rom 8:29-30)

Here is another verse, we are probably familiar with. God makes all things work together for good for those who love God. We understand this verse to mean that He works through good circumstances and bad according to His plan and purpose. But the next verse explains why.

For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. (Rom 8:29-30)

We each have a responsibility to grow up. When we give our lives to the Lord, we are babes who live off milk. As we grow and serve, we mature and crave the meat. We learn from our many mistakes. We begin to see things differently, having lived through our own trials. We lift up, love, and encourage one another. We learn how to bear one another’s burdens. Though God works through our tears and trials, He chose us to become like His Son. Through everything we face, He is conforming us into the image of Christ. It’s an astounding thought that through our most painful moments (ashes) He is working through it to make us more like His Son (Beauty).

 Just as the fire consumed away the dead brush and dead grass it served a purpose. It cleared out my yard and prepared the soil for new growth. It did something I wasn’t expecting at the time. When God is at work, He is preparing us for something even when we don’t know what it is. Our natural eyes see pain, suffering, and grief, but in time our spiritual eyes will eventually see God through it.

He is the gardener and we are the branches (Jn 15:1-2). He prunes us from everything that  hinders our growth. By removing lifeless limbs, we become fruitful boughs. A tree that has been pruned looks awkward and spiny, but when it finally blooms what a sight! 

He is the refiner, watching closely as we go into the furnace of affliction (1 Pt 1:7). We are tested by fire so we may come out as pure gold and stronger in faith. 

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. (Phil 1:6)

Beloved, do you know that He is active in what you have faced or are currently facing? He is working on you and through you. He will continue until Jesus returns. He isn’t a procrastinator like we are. When God begins a work, He is faithful to finish because He sees the end from the beginning.

Jesus replied, “You do not understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.” (Jn 13:7)

A lot of times we try to pray our way out of pain. We try to pray the persecution, tears, and suffering away. I mean, who really enjoys suffering? No one of course, but He is at work through it all. Suffering produces eternal glory that we cannot comprehend at times. (2 Cor 4:27) 

We are like common clay jars that carry this glorious treasure within, so that the extraordinary overflow of power will be seen as God’s, not ours. Though we experience every kind of pressure, we’re not crushed. At times we don’t know what to do, but quitting is not an option. We are persecuted by others, but God has not forsaken us. We may be knocked down, but not out. We continually share in the death of Jesus in our own bodies so that the resurrection life of Jesus will be revealed through our humanity. (2 Cor 4:7-10 TPT)

As we continue to press on after we feel like we have taken life’s hits, Jesus’ resurrection life shines through us. God’s grace is spread to more people bringing Him praise and glory. People see the evidence of God’s power in our lives. 

He makes the story of our lives, both good and bad, into something not only beautiful but meaningful. He will use your story to bring Him glory and that is truly beauty for ashes. 

He has made everything beautiful and appropriate in its time. He has also planted eternity [a sense of divine purpose] in the human heart [a mysterious longing which nothing under the sun can satisfy, except God]—yet man cannot find out (comprehend, grasp) what God has done (His overall plan) from the beginning to the end. (Ecc 3:11 AMP)

Lord, thank You for being actively involved in my life. Though I don’t understand Your ways at times, I sing praises to Your name. I pray for those who are mourning due to loss and I pray that You would comfort them. Crown them with your loving kindness. Anoint them with the oil of gladness, and let them draw from Your well of salvation with joy once more. Thank you for bringing beauty from brokenness. Thank You for using my life’s story and choosing me to become like Your Son. In Jesus’ name and all for Your glory, Amen.

Author Gloria Robles is a passionate intercessor with a prophetic voice for today. For more from Gloria, go to Spotify or Anchor to listen to her podcast Something To Share.

How did you relate to this article? What is the story of your life? Encourage one another–leave a comment.