Nothing Left: He Makes Beauty Out of Our Ashes

Ever been shattered by loss? Seeking to pick up all the broken pieces and feeling that we had nothing left – either to give or to have? Wave after wave seems to be crashing in over our heads and the future appears dimly dark and extremely hard for us to navigate our ways even to make the next right step? Look up. God is not surprised by our fears or our needs or frightened by them or found scratching His Head over them wondering what has happened. He is not disappointed in us rather He wants us to turn and run to Him. To look to Him. He is the all Sufficient One. Remember, He is ever close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in Spirit. Indeed, He speaks to us through these trials: “Do not be afraid”, “look up”, not in or out but “Up”. “Come to Me,” are His Words. I will carry you through taking you from “strength to strength”. 

In Scripture, when His saints were enduring hardship, and often unbeknownst to them, they carried out specific assignments - particularly when the circumstances seemed “far beyond their ability to endure”- they sought Him – His perfect peace and guidance. Think Daniel and his three brave worthies Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego for starters – those, Scripture tells us, the world was not worthy of as well as a plethora of others who clung to the Father through great hardships – Jesus being our greatest example of all.
 
We are not alone. Many have tread this path prior. We can trust God in and through our circumstances. He always has our best interest at heart in all He allows in the lives of His heirs of mercy. The great Apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:8-11 (NIV): “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.  

“Do not be afraid” was the first thing Elijah said to the widow of Zarephath after she acknowledged her desperate situation—because fear is what you feel when you have nothing left. Highs and lows are in every life. When we find ourselves in the valley how do we get back to higher ground? We return by looking at Jesus – meditating on His life, His goodness, His ways. Dwell on the sure promises of God – that He loves us and that He sent His Son to die for us. We do not earn this love, we simply receive it with an utmost thankful heart. Believer, when you are discouraged remember Whose you are and Whom you serve. We are loved freely and fully by the God of Promise – no earning it, just received with grateful hearts. Look up – not out or in but up. He is but a breath away.