//There are so many different ways to look at BEAUTY.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Beauty is fleeting...

One of my favorite Scriptures is from Isaiah 61:3, where God promises to make BEAUTY from ashes. 

"To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory." (emphasis mine, NLT)

I think we can all relate to that. God didn't promise us an easy life, but He promised to be with us and to carry us through. I would LOVE to take the easy route, but He does not usually take us AROUND the troubles.

Some troubles are minor like car problems that make things inconvenient. Some troubles are more life-altering such as moving or a change of jobs. While other troubles feel more like ashes; relationships that crumble, the death of loved ones, or other catastrophic events. 

I have had several troubles that felt like ashes in my life. However, I chose to look for the beauty in the midst of the pain and the ashes and saw new life! I trusted the Lord to walk with me through the difficulties and to be brave...to share my stories of His faithfulness! The beauty that has come out of the troubles is a steadfastness in my walk with Him and also a deep-rooted strength in Him! 

I never paid attention to that next sentence in the Scripture, but it says that He has planted the oaks for His glory!  Because I chose to trust God, He has changed my ashes for beauty and has redeemed what I thought I had lost! He alone knows my destiny, but as I lean into my identity as His daughter, I come closer to Him each day.  

Faith is a choice and so is looking for beauty. I chose to look for the beauty from those ashes, and He has fulfilled His promise to me. The neat thing is that He continues to fulfill that promise each day as I look to Him. He has made me stronger, removed many of my fears and I am becoming an oak of righteousness that I pray displays His glory! 

During my recent First 5 study Krista Williams stated: "Our gaze will guide us and we'll become what we behold." 

I want to become more like Jesus and choose to spend time with Him so I can behold His beauty! 

Whatever "ashes" you may have in your life, God promises to bring beauty! Will you trust Him today?

May you be blessed by this song! 

This post is part of Kate Motaung's "Five Minute Friday," which she hosts on the Five Minute Friday website. Kate posts a single word each week and each blogger sets a timer for 5 minutes to write and then posts, with very little editing. Check out the other writers this week!