Jesus has come for the broken-hearted:
To bind them up in His peace;
To give freedom for captives
And from the darkness release.
Jesus has come to proclaim His favor,
His comfort for all who mourn;
Giving hope for all who grieve
And a crown instead of scorn.
A crown of beauty instead of ashes;
The oil of gladness for pain;
Garments of praise for despair;
Righteousness of Christ to gain.
Instead of shame, receive forgiveness;
A double portion of love.
Every disgrace turned to joy,
Redemption sent from above.
Clothed me with heavenly garments
Of salvation by His grace.
Arrayed in a spotless robe,
His righteousness I’ll embrace.
Isaiah 61
Yes, I am in beautiful Hawaii for Christmas with my family. We are on the Big Island where the Volcanoes National Park is located. The volcanoes are active. Lava is flowing, leaving smoke and ashes in its path. This reminds me of Isaiah 61:3. The prophet writes of God’s comfort to all who mourn. He gives beauty for ashes. If you are a child of God, salvation clothes you with heavenly garments. Jesus came to bring beauty from ashes.
In scripture, ashes on the head expressed mourning. A crown of garland signified gladness. Today ashes represent: pain, loss, disappointments, distress, despair, shame, and suffering. God promises to replace these with beauty. Beauty can be hope, light, success, joy and glory.
Psalm 34:19 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”
We may not see all these promises fulfilled in our lifetime, but we will reach His gladness in eternity. Beauty from ashes, God’s wonderful promise.
