[marriagerestoration] Digest : Beauty for Ashes!!

Isaiah 61:3 "To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning,..."

What is your situation today? Are you going through hard times in your marriage?
It may not be a bad marriage, but it may be some other situation you are experiencing at this time. A calamity, desolation, crisis, if you are mourning; hard times, a difficult circumstance. Things such as these will get God's attention.

The Bible says that He will give us beauty for ashes. In Bible times it was the custom for the people of that day to, in great times of mourning and difficulty, lay in ashes. Just think about that. You've got a problem in your life and you just sit down in a pile of ashes. There is nothing beautiful about ashes.


But the scripture says He is going to take your difficult, disgusting, depressing and horrible situation and give you beauty. He is going to pick you up out of the ash pile of life and make
something beautiful out of you.

If you will just wait. Hold on my sister,. Hold on my brother. God is going to turn your sorrow into joy. He speaks and it is already done.

Isaiah said He will give you beauty for ashes. God knew you would be burnt by life's experiences. But He also knew He could replace that burnt out mess with something beautiful.

Do you ever wonder why God has allowed you to go through certain circumstances? Do you wonder what good things could ever come from these painful, trying times? Do you struggle with guilt because sometimes you get angry at God for allowing these horrible things to have taken place?


Ps. 103:13-14 says that as a father has compassion on his children, so God has compassion on us. He remembers how we are formed - that we are dust. In other words, He knows you may be angry, and that the anger may even be directed at Him. The good news is that He knows we are dust, so He knows our various emotions, good and bad. And yet, He STILL has compassion on us.

II Cor. 3:18 tells us that we are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory. He can even use our painful past and troublesome trials to work that ever-increasing glory into our lives.

Be confident that He who began a good work in you will be ever faithful to complete it. (Phil. 1:6)

Is. 61:3 says that you will find that you have been given beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. You will be called an oak of righteousness (symbolizing strength), displaying God's splendor.

My dear friends, don't despise your trials and those deep hurts in your heart, but invite God to do wonders through them!

Know that I am praying and interceding on your behalf daily. Thanks very much in advance for your prayers and support. You are appreciated.!

Be encouraged
Pastor Doreen