Isaiah 61:3 “…and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of spirit of despair….” [NIV]
The other day my son texted me a picture of the ultrasound of their 6-month-old baby in the womb. I couldn’t stop thinking about that beautiful little face. It seemed like the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. And it catapulted me into somewhat of a “Beauty Recognition Day.”
I thought of beautiful people God has put in my life, friendships and warm conversations. Beautiful places like the Cotswolds in England, the chalets in Switzerland, Rocky Mountains peppered with spring flowers. And of how beautiful it is to snatch glimpses of God’s presence through a song or scripture or a book I’m reading.
God authors all beauty. Dwelling on beautiful things inevitably draws us to him. Really. When we immerse ourselves in beauty, the Holy Spirit has a way of lifting us above the ugliness in the world. Above the ashes.
A fallen world produces ashes. The ashes of grief. Ashes of despair. Ashes of shame and regret. But smack dab in the middle of all our ugly circumstances, God promises to trade the ashes for beauty. He enters into our mourning and comforts us with the enduring promise of better things, better times. What kind of God does that?
The kind of God who redeems and restores. With beautiful things.
The heartaches and groans we experience in fallen life are headed toward a glorious exchange. Recognizing the beauty around us reminds us the surrounding ashes aren’t permanent. God makes all things beautiful in his time (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Landscapes of war-torn countries, as well as landscapes of war-torn hearts.
So why don’t you go ahead? Thank God for all the beautiful things in your life. Have your own Beauty Recognition Day. May the oil of joy wash over you. And may the garment of praise lift you up.