Episode 04: Beauty from Ashes

God’s hope never disappoints. The key is to find out what He has promised as opposed to or slightly different than what your expectation was. Often there is a gap in our expectation from God and from our lives or others, and what the other party had planned. The pain of disappointment can be so great and the amount of energy required to be pulled out of the grief nearly insurmountable. Baby steps out of this is too hard, and even facing the sadness unbearable, but facing it is the beginning of the way out of it.

We cannot ignore the grief for long. It will eventually seep out of us beyond our control and sometimes in ugly ways. The sooner we face the grief, and allow the well of tears to be released, the sooner we will find our healing. God’s promise is that He is able to turn ashes into beauty. He will give us oil of gladness, and joy in the morning, though it may feel far away. Clinging to the hope of Heaven is always one sure thing we have. The hope of heaven cannot disappoint us from this side of creation. We have the assurance of God’s love and mercy unfailing even in our darkest moments. If we can only seek it out, His Comforter will find us where we are, when we are honest with our emotions and pain. If we desperately seek Him with all of our hearts— we are guaranteed to find Him, thought it may not be immediate. Grieve over the ashes and then wait and see how Jesus turns the water of your tears into the joy of the wine He only can give.