Beauty from Ashes

Was just thinking today how blessed I am to have gone through such rough circumstances nearly FIVE years ago now!!!!

When we are going through something, some of us think how could God let me go through this??!!

I can remember being in the middle of an anxiety attack, or laying in bed in the middle of the night with just a heavy oppression and worry pressing in on my chest, thinking why isn't God helping me??? Driving to work feeling mentally unable to cope with all I had to do. Feeling weak. Putting on a good front but crumbling on the inside.

But now I look at those moments as THE most precious moments in my life. The refining moments. I would not be where I am today without them.

I wouldn't want to relive them, and thankfully I know I don't have to relive them again!!

BUT! Without them, I would have never been humbled enough to lay down before my great God and ask Him to heal my soul. To grant me peace. And satisfaction. And strength. And joy.

I'd have continued on in my semi-comfortable way. Seeking satisfaction from things that never fully satisfy but are gratifying for the moment or the day or maybe the weekend.

Psalm 18:16-19 

 ¹⁶ He reached down from on high and took hold of me; 
       he drew me out of deep waters.

 ¹⁷ He rescued me from my powerful enemy, 
       from my foes, who were too strong for me.

 ¹⁸ They confronted me in the day of my disaster, 
       but the LORD was my support.

 ¹⁹ He brought me out into a spacious place; 
       he rescued me because he delighted in me.

Isaiah 61:3 

 ...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.

Psalm 40

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

 ¹ I waited patiently for the LORD; 
       he turned to me and heard my cry.

 ² He lifted me out of the slimy pit, 
       out of the mud and mire; 
       he set my feet on a rock 
       and gave me a firm place to stand.

 ³ He put a new song in my mouth, 
       a hymn of praise to our God. 
       Many will see and fear 
       and put their trust in the LORD.

 ⁴ Blessed is the man 
       who makes the LORD his trust, 
       who does not look to the proud, 
       to those who turn aside to false gods. ^{a]" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 0.5em; ">[a]}

 ⁵ Many, O LORD my God, 
       are the wonders you have done. 
       The things you planned for us 
       no one can recount to you; 
       were I to speak and tell of them, 
       they would be too many to declare

Jeremiah 17:7-8 

 ⁷ "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, 
       whose confidence is in him.

 ⁸ He will be like a tree planted by the water 
       that sends out its roots by the stream. 
       It does not fear when heat comes; 
       its leaves are always green. 
       It has no worries in a year of drought 
       and never fails to bear fruit."

There are tons more precious verses of God's beautiful words in this vein that I could keep posting. I should pull some New Testament verses too.

But I am going to go get in my cozy bed and read them myself before I go down for a PEACEful night's sleep.  

Thanks ONLY to our great Lord! THE one who died for my sins and yours over 2000 years ago today, and is to this very moment, as we speak, all over the world, visibly changing lives and breaking chains and freeing hearts just like mine from despair and hopelessness. 

Infusing them with joy and hope and a satisfaction that is lasting and a future that is bright and beautiful and eternal.

1 Corinthians 2:9

However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" —

Love Him!