Beauty for Ashes
Although it is a somber thought, many of us will not get through this life without the experience of heartbreak. Often, this comes through no fault of our own. It may sneak up on us through an unexpected loss, a crushing diagnosis, an act of betrayal or the subtle sting of rejection.
As we walk through the crowds of people, you will run into a sea smiling faces. However, if we look closer, behind the painted expression, hidden in secret places, you will find an injured soul; a broken spirit crying out to be held and be put back together again.
There is One who died to do just that for us! His name is Jesus and He was broken for our transgressions, He came to set the captives free and to heal the brokenhearted! He wants to take our pain and trade it for a peace that surpasses all understanding. He wants to take the life that has been mangled by others, and sometimes by our own doing, and He wants to transform it into something so beautiful that we could never have imagined on our own. He wants to use your story of redemption to touch the lives of others.
But there is a catch; and it is the hardest part. We must come out of hiding, we must stop pretending and lay the truth of our heartache at His feet! He will take the unbearable pain and give us beauty for our ashes!
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Oh please, why are you kidding yourself? Jesus and God is a bedtime story. I watched as my mother withered away with god in her mind. If only she knew it was all in vain. I refuse to believe he exists because this world is cruel and hateful. A “god” would not let that happen. Just take a moment and think about this God concept. Feels foolish now that you analyze it doesn’t it? Science over everything kid. “god” stays silent as the whole world weeps. Let’s just say he does “exist”, I am more then happy to call him out on everything he lets happen in this world. I am even willing to go to hell for justifying my reasons as to why he is a horrible pathetic psychopath.
My apologies for the late response. I have not been able to monitor this blog as often as I’d like.
I am sorry to hear about your mother. Losing someone that we love is NEVER easy. My mother is in the beginning stages of an illness too and watching her symptoms slowly progress has been difficult for me and my siblings.
Your anger is understandable, and you are right…this is a cruel and hateful world. But that’s because of the choices that people have made…not God. He has allowed us the free will to choose for ourselves, and sadly selfish desire usually beats out love. The selfish choices of others at times hurt innocent people. Trust me, I’ve been there.
As far as God being a bedtime story, I was once where you are now. He was illogical and He just didn’t make sense to me! I struggled for years to try to make sense of it.
I grew up in dysfunctional home…abuse and alcohol were the norm. As a matter of fact, I’ve lost about nine aunts and uncles to alcohol and six of those have been in the past eight years. How could God allow this? I asked the same questions you did. Then it happened…I had an encounter with Him; Jesus met me at my lowest point. I wish that I could explain it to you, but there are no words for what I experienced that day! I remember being led to the scripture in Isaiah 55:8-9 that tells us that His ways are higher than ours. It was clear to me on that day that trying to make sense of it all was going to drive me insane because there was no way that my finite mind could not wrap itself around an infinite God.
So in an effort to answer your question: No, I do not feel foolish at all. I can’t explain Him, but no one can take away what I experienced, and continue to experience or the way he has transformed my life. It would be like me trying to put into words what I feel for my children. Even with all of my efforts, the words would not do what feel any justice.
You say your mother passed with God on her mind and that it was all in vain. But I would have to respectfully disagree with you. The reality is that you don’t know what happened after she passed. His Word says that if she believed in her heart she would spend eternity with Him. And if that’s true (which I believe is) she is doing so much better than you or I could even begin to imagine!
The fact of the matter is, you should let Him know how you feel…whether you believe He is exists or not…even if you don’t believe in Him, He believes in you!
Even if this response does not bring you any solace, I do pray that you find what you are looking for.
Such a painful loss cannot be fixed with words. Only the Spirit of Truth can lead anyone who has such deep rooted pain to be changed and manifested into love, peace and eventually joy. What the church has failed to do is to fully embrace the Third and most powerful source of God which is the Holy Spirit, the one Jesus promised would come. I simply encourage you to quietly ask this same Spirit to come into and abide in you for the different outcome God has in store for you.