Beauty for Ashes

Isaiah 61:3 “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.”

I’ve got to have hope. I’ve got to believe that this is not it. I’ve got to believe it gets better. I’ve got to think that this too shall pass. I’ve got to know that all of this is for my good. It gets better. Every day there is something. Bad news. Crazy headlines. Death and despair everywhere, BUT God! His word gives us comfort that there will be a great exchange. We will trade our ashes for beauty. What are the ashes? They are all the difficult and challenging things we have experienced. We can give God our burdens. We can give God our hurt. We can give God our fear. We can give God our anger. We can give it all to God. We can have beauty for ashes.