I thought I would not make it
My mind, my strength, was gone
Everything in my life came crashing down
I felt so all alone

Now I’m lookin’ at my life in broken pieces
Oh, what, will I do now
I want to trust You but I just don’t know how
And right before I threw in the towel

God turned it
And gave me
Beauty, for ashes

My storm would not move on
My nights, they lasted so long
There was, no sign of my morning
I wanted to give up

But You wouldn’t let me be
You came and set me free
I came to You with my pain
And we made an exchange

God turned it
And gave me
Beauty, for ashes
He turned it and gave me
Beauty for ashes
God turned it
And gave me
Beauty for ashes

The worst thing in my whole life
Became the most beautiful thing

The most embarrassing thing that brought so much shame
Became the most beautiful thing

And like a baby that’s born, all the pain and dirt
Became the most beautiful thing

For, He turned it

 Tye Tribbett

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…and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of joy 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.
Isaiah 61:3

I heard a saying yesterday, “When life fights, it doesn’t fight fair…”; how true is this?  Things often happen that we do not expect.  We fall, we fail; and at times we look around and see only ashes.  Ashes of relationships, of friendships, of hopes and dreams.  Life can be ugly.  But God… Despite the ugliness that life can bring, the beauty that God brings overshadows it all.  The love and restoration that God brings changes our ashes into something wonderful.  When we feel we have nothing left and our fight is gone, He is in our corner shaping our lives, directing our paths.  We don’t always see it in the moment.  But take a minute and look back. Look at your storms, your difficult times. How did God turn it around, how did He orchestrate the situation to raise you up and show His power and love…?  You may be going through a situation now, there may be a storm raging, but take rest in the fact that God is working.  Take rest in the fact that God will turn your ashes into something beautiful.

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Let’s pray: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for doing something no other can do.  Life is full of ashes and only You can turn them into something beautiful.  We take peace in your words.  In Jesus’ name, amen.