Beauty Will Rise

The most wonderful thing about being a believer is the fact that no matter what happens to us in this life here on the Earth, that's not the end of the story. We are promised a happy ending, a life after death, and that provides for us hope in the darkest of situations. No one knows why bad things happen, but one thing is certain, they do indeed happen and there's nothing we can do to change that. We can, however, determine the outcome by deciding what to do with ourselves after these difficult times have undoubtedly broken us. Either we let evil win by choosing to remain down, and defeated or we claim victory in Christ and have the courage to rise up from the ashes and let God rebuild us. Into something better, something stronger, and use these hardships to bring forth new growth. Which, more often than not, leads to an unexpected and yet unthinkable beauty.

That's not to say that we don't struggle and ask the hard questions, I mean we'd be lying to ourselves if we tried to deny their existence in our minds, like the "why me?" or "what did I do to deserve this?" But will we actually wait around long enough and stay attentive enough for God to reveal to us the answer. For him to show us how He really is on our side and does work ALL things together for good in our favor, and for His glory. And how He uses the ugliest and most hurtful of circumstances to bring about the most amazing end result that wouldn't have been possible, otherwise.

Isn't it crazy that in our darkest hours, are the times that God feels the farthest away and yet the closest at the  same time. Our initial reaction is to blame God, to be angry at Him and to wonder where He is and why He let this happen. Then when we start to accept whatever it is that has happened and the anger dissolves into sadness, we just want to be held. And who better to be comforted by than the Creator of our very being who happens to know the exact number of hairs that are on our head and every thought that enters our mind. These times when we're at our lowest are probably the most precious to our Heavenly Father, not because he enjoys watching us suffer by any means but rather quite the contrary. When everything else is stripped away and we are completely vulnerable before Him, that's when we experience true intimacy with Him. He finds great pleasure in restoring us and nothing else is more beautiful or meaningful in comparison.

Being a mother myself has helped me to grasp this concept all the more. I watch my daughter toddle around and I am filled with unconditional love and inexpressible joy. I am proud of her and rejoice at every little milestone she reaches. Before long, however, little miss independent becomes a little over-confident in her new-found abilities and refuses to hold my hand anymore; even though, she has only been walking on those tiny little legs for a little over a month. Then, when she is challenged by unexpected uneven surfaces, she stumbles, and falls to the ground. When it's a bad one, she stays right where she's fallen but turns her body around and reaches for me to pick her up, to console her. As a Mom, these times when my child becomes re-acquainted with the desire to be in my arms where she is safe are indeed treasured and very special to my heart.

I realize that my Father feels the same way about me (only His love for me is even greater) during those times when I think that I am more than capable of handling things on my own and then I wind up down in the dirt. I can completely relate to the fact that though He hates when life knocks me down, He loves being there to pick me up when it does, and He cherishes those moments when I'm down on my knees and I'm reaching for Him. And suddenly it all becomes worth it, even if the path that led me there was full of pain and suffering, because what a beautiful, and humbling place that is to be.

I can't answer all those specific questions about why God lets certain things happen to certain people at certain times and so on, but I do know one thing: Our Heavenly Father is the King of bringing beauty from ashes, of taking the most tragic and seemingly hopeless scenarios and bringing about complete resolution and new life. Run into the arms of your Maker and let him put a new song in your heart. The clouds will soon part, the rain will cease and the sun will indeed shine again. This life is tough, but rest in the assurance that inevitably what we have to look forward to is an eternity where everything will be made right again, where we will be made perfect, and where we will live with our Savior in paradise forever. That is the promise I am standing on, the hope that leads me on, and the reason I am able to carry on regardless of what this life may bring. What an overwhelmingly breathtaking view it is when we are able to let go of everything else and are only holding on by our faith but somehow stick it out long enough and climb high enough to see beauty rise up out of the depths of our deepest, darkest valley.

John 16:33

³³ “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
²⁰ 

Romans 8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Job 30:20

“I cry out to you, God, but you do not answer;
    I stand up, but you merely look at me.

Job 42:10

After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.

Luke 12:7

Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Psalm 139:1-4

You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.

Psalm 46:1

God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.

Psalm 40:3

He put a new song in my mouth,
    a hymn of praise to our God.

Isaiah 61:3a

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.

Revelation 21:4

‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Psalm 23:6

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.