Ashes and Tears

Isaiah 61:3 - “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.” There are times when we are cast into the furnace of affliction and the refiner’s fire and it seems like everything we’ve ever loved or cared about goes up in flames and all we’re left with is tears and ashes. Incidentally, ashes and water are the two things you need to make lye, one of the main ingredients in soap. When our impurities are burned away, God can take those ashes and He can cleanse us. He will give unto us Beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Our trials were never meant to be easy or pleasant and they can often seem unbearable. But there is beauty and joy and glory beyond the ashes and tears of our trials.