Suffering Transformed

I lay awake in the dark several nights ago, seeing the brilliant flash of lightning only moments before hearing the startling crash of thunder. I remember as a child, sitting on the back screened-in-porch of our home while rain plummeted down the screens, watching lightning rip the sky and hearing thunder explode around me. Yet in that porch I was unharmed, safe, and unafraid. I began to think of God that way…He is a safe, peaceful place amid trouble.

We only need to turn on the television news to know trouble surrounds us, often unexpected and frightening. But we are promised, if we look to God for comfort, beauty flows out of the ashes of pain and difficulty. David tells us in the Psalms, when Israel experienced more pain and suffering than ever imagined, God sent Jesus. God sent Jesus to make His home in our hearts that He might give them and us love, peace, and joy even during suffering.

Jesus made clear to the religious leaders that He is the One described in this passage of the Bible. He is the One who gives bouquets of roses instead of ashes.

“The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me
because God anointed me.
He sent me to preach good news to the poor,
heal the heartbroken,
Announce freedom to all captives,
pardon all prisoners.
God sent me to announce the year of his grace—
a celebration of God’s destruction of our enemies—
and to comfort all who mourn,
To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion,
give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes,
Messages of joy instead of news of doom,
a praising heart instead of a languid spirit. (Isaiah 51:1-3)

As we consider beauty this month, beauty often flows out of suffering. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross writes, “The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.”

Jesus came to our broken world to bring hope, peace, and a future. As you live Your Refreshed Life it is important to remember, God takes the difficulties and troubles of life and in a way that only He can, transforms them into something beautiful. He brings beauty out of ashes and as you trust Him to walk you out of the darkness of sadness and despair into His light, you will radiate His beauty, a beauty no one can take from you. People will see Jesus in your eyes.