Beauty From Ashes

I was blessed recently to spend time with a very dear friend. It is really a funny story about how I finally gave in to the blessing!

On Monday, I was presented with an opportunity to take a road trip. I really didn't pray about it, but was just excited that I was getting out of the house, and I was going to spend time with my husband, even if it was in the car for 4 hours!

But as the trip wore on, things didn't go as I had planned. We didn't leave when I wanted, and the traffic was terrible. Because of this and what seemed to a growing pile of obstacles, I wasn't going to be able to spend time with friends or family. I began to get discouraged and felt as though I hadn't thought entirely through my road trip, and maybe it would have been better for me to stay home. I was really beating myself up.

Stacy was so wonderful, I love that God has blessed me with him. He saw it differently. He saw that God's hand had provided an escape, an opportunity, and I should not allow the circumstances to rob me of what God was doing.

So, long story short I arrived at my friends, and almost immediately she says to me, "I'm so glad you came, it is God's will for you to be here..." I was floored! Stacy had been saying it, and now she had said it. And I hadn't even mentioned to her how I was feeling.

The point of me telling this, is that I realized how great my God is. He loves me so much, that He would reassure me of something so simple. But also, He restored to me this friendship, in such a way, that He has filled a need in my life. I have a mentor, and counselor, and a friend and sister in Christ.

Years before, the friendship was dead. It had been brought to ashes, and I had no hopes of ever being friends again. There was so much hurt (on both sides), so much pain, anger, disappointment, it had been utterly destroyed.

Isaiah 61:3
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,

By God's provision, what was dead was brought to life, and it was so that He would be glorified.

In pondering and thinking on this, I realize that in all my relationships, I have to trust God. I can't be afraid to let go of those that need to be let go of. If a friendship seems to be dying, I can only trust God, and that He will either bring it to life again, or replace it with new life, but all of it is for His glory.

I have seen a miracle in my friendship, and because of this, I can hope in God. I can hope in God in my relationships, in finances, in decisions, in all areas of my life. And if there is a part that seems to be dying, in God's time according to His will it can be resurrected.