My Jesus 5-Day Devotional by Anne WilsonSample

DAY 5- Beauty from Ashes

Isaiah writes about Jesus roughly 700 years before His birth in Isaiah 61:1-3: “He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes.”

As a family, it was very hard to lose Jacob, and there is a decision that has to be made when you lose someone you love: Will you move on with Jesus or will you fight this grief alone? It is tempting to be angry at the Lord and to blame Him, wondering: Why did you allow this? But the morning after we lost Jacob, I sat down at the piano and worshiped, taking that time to just thank the Lord for my brother and for the time I had with him. I decided I was going to praise God and give Him the glory for everything He is and has done. Let me share something with you about My Jesus: He does not waste tragedy, and He does not waste tears. He rather transforms us with His deep mercy and grace and draws us closer to Him. There are seasons where you may suffer, and that may be the season you are in now. Lay your burdens at His feet and let Him rescue you. Let Him use the storm in your life for His glory and for the Kingdom at hand . . . and the Kingdom to come. Paul writes in Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

God does not say all things are good. Whatever your crash is, it is not good, but God will transform that pain for His purpose. Allow him into your story so you will not face one moment of your crash alone. You will soon find purpose as you hand your crash over to Christ.

Pray this prayer: Lord, thank you for who You are. In the moments I feel let down . . . in the moments I feel betrayed . . . and in the moments I feel like it is all crashing to the ground, allow me to praise You. I want to glorify You in the midst of the storm. Give me peace when I do not understand, and use my story for good. Amen.