Beauty from Ashes

Isn’t it funny? The best lessons often come from the hardest trials.

I took a sunset walk with my mom tonight. She actually snapped this picture as we started walking. About a mile in we started to pass several mud puddles. Normally I wouldn’t notice anything about them, but tonight was different. I had my head down examining just how dirty they were. But even still, when I looked at them all I could see was a reflection of the sun setting in the sky. Ironic isn’t it? That something so dirty would give way to something so great? It was impossible to see my own reflection, but it was so easy to see the light. It reminds me of what Jesus does with us. We think our life is a reflection of our wrong doings or a culmination of moments we regret. Too many times we let ourself take too much of the frame when looking at our past. In those moments of reflection we try to hide them. When telling our story we typically dodge those puddles of life. Instead, we highlight the moments that look good to those around us.

But ya wanna know the truth? The worst parts of our life (like the really ugly ones) are good, dare I say GREAT, opportunities to put God on display. Why? Because it becomes a lot less about us and a whole lot more about him. Jesus can be seen realllyyy clear in the moments where we aren’t trying to get in the spotlight. He uses our brokenness for his light to shine through (and it DOES).

Whatever your mess is there’s a message there. He will use your weakest moments to bring forth ultimate goodness. Then again, maybe that’s why they say beauty comes from ashes !!!!