From Ashes to Beauty

From Ashes to Beauty

Do you know that suffering refines our faith?  Do you believe that joy does come in the morning?   If you are not sure about this let me share how joy and happiness can happen for you, if you choose to let the Lord grab ahold of your hand and guide you while being obedient to Him in every way.  If we do not choose His way we can become bitter.  Are you bitter?

Bitter or Better ~ These are the choices we have when we are suffering and going through trials.  Bitter is letting Satan have a hold of you and letting the suffering, grief or trial get the best of you and bring you both physically and emotionally down. Or you can choose better and have hope in the Lord that he will strengthen you and give your more joy and happiness then you could have ever dreamed of. I promise!

I do know both sides, but girlfriend I want to share with you what it is like when we let go of the bitterness and grab of ahold of the better (Jesus’ way). True pure beauty!  God has walked along side me and given me so much joy and happiness.  Let me share that after going through the trials and suffering, I would not want to change back my sufferings.  Yes, I did say I would not change them.  My heart is in a better place today then long ago when I was faced with some great hardship.

My first trial out of the three that I will mention in this story happened right after my second son was born. We found out that he would never hear his mommy talked to him, never hear the birds chirp in the morning. Yes, in my selfish way I would love him to be able to hear.  Honestly though, I know he is happy in his deaf world(deaf friends and culture) and has done a great job of seeking his independence to go to college and graduate with a bachelors degree.  He has traveled all over Europe with a deaf friend, and he has traveled many times on his own too.  He has learned to not let his disability stop him and get in his way of conquering the many desires he has in this life to accomplish.  His determination and successes have taught me so much about my own life and not letting fear get the best of me.

My second and the saddest for me is the loss of my baby son, Tyler Matthew.  Tyler was a gift from God even if I only had him for 8 months.  He was a part of our families future and I now look forward to seeing him soon someday in heaven.  I live with the pain but know he is in such a better place with Jesus and does not have to suffer the sin of this world.  Yes, in my selfishness I would take him back, but that was not God’s plan and I live knowing that I have become a better Mother and closer to the Lord through this journey.

My third trial to mention in this story would be my divorce.  Going through this was tough, for myself but also to see the pain in my boys hearts.

What the future held for me and coming out of this pain and suffering is that the Lord has given me so much more than I could ever have imagined.  He has loved me tenderly through it all and help me see that I needed him more than ever.  So, I grabbed ahold of his hand and took the journey to the other side.  To the majestic side filled with beauty and trust. I am grateful that I died to myself and gave Him my all.  Surrendering fully to Him.  For his plans are greater than mine!

JEREMIAH 29:11 (NIV)

Yes, I know there will probably be more sufferings coming my way,  I fully trust my God and know that with him in my heart, daily dying to myself and fully surrendering to Him, I know he will love and guide me through it all. I trust Him! He has brought so much beauty from the ashes!

Please understand I do not want to sound like this was a fast and quick process for me.  I was broken and a mess.  These trials happen over several years  and God’s work in me has been years in the making and I know I have lots of work to be done yet in the years to come.   He is constantly refining me, but he has taken my mess and brokenness and shined it up!

While at the conference in Spain we broke down into small groups to talk about suffering and to come up with some Biblical Principles on Suffering. I want to share some of these Biblical Principles on Suffering with you.

God allows trials for our good and His glory

God is always sovereign in our suffering

Suffering refines us and perfects us to give us victory and present us faultless before his throne

We can have a positive growth process with tribulation that produces perseverance leading us to hope

The end is maturity and completeness that allows us to comfort and walk with others going through suffering

I am praying you can find the beauty from the ashes!