2020 – the year of the COVID pandemic. I, like many others, experienced uncertainty, change and loss. One summer day, I was sharing with my friend, Tricia, a personal experience that led to much heartbreak in early 2020. A couple of days later, I started receiving encouraging devotions by text from Tricia. I knew this was her kind and giving way of reaching out to encourage me on my path of healing.
A couple of months later, Tricia sent me a text saying, “God sure does have a sense of humor”. Immediately she had my attention, and I went on to read the rest of her message. She mistakenly sent a devotion meant for me to her estranged sister, Cindy. Tricia and her sister had not spoken in years. When Cindy received the devotion, the door was opened for two estranged sisters to reconcile! And, they did!
Tricia and Cindy’s mom had a birthday coming up so Cindy brought her family from Florida to SC for the celebration. What a wonderful birthday surprise for this mom – to have her family reunited! What a blessing to see family photos of everyone so happy and excited to see one another!
I soon realized God had used my heartbreak as an opportunity to make “beauty from ashes” as the scripture says. Had I kept that heartache inside and not shared it with my friend, Tricia would have never thought to compassionately share her encouraging devotions, she would have never “mistakenly” sent the devotion to her estranged sister, Cindy, and the birthday for their mom with a reconciled and reunited family would have never happened.
Isaiah 61:3 says “(The Spirit of the Lord is upon me)…“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord that HE MIGHT BE GLORIFIED.”
What a blessing to know God redeems our pain in unfathomable ways. We are the apple of His eye (Deuteronomy 32:10). Nothing goes unnoticed by our Heavenly Father. Never underestimate the power of our God to turn a burden into a blessing, a heartache to joy, and a tear into a smile. Look for God in your everyday routine, and you will see HIM and you will see HE can make beauty from ashes.
By Cindy Danenhower
Christ Fellowship