God Does Give Beauty for Ashes but....

To those who have sorrow in Zion I will give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes. I will give them the oil of joy instead of sorrow, and a spirit of praise instead of a spirit of no hope. Then they will be called oaks that are right with God, planted by the Lord, that He may be honored.

Isaiah 61:3

I write this today because it has been bothering me this week how people try to justify people's pain with the sovereignty of God. Just this week a senator tried to imply that rape and incest could be part of God's will for someones life because God is sovereign and He can use any circumstance.

First of all, that is a crock of CRAP! Yes, God is sovereign but He would never, Ever, EVER will us harm. His Word clearly says that His plans for us are good and NOT evil to bring us a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). Rape and incest are evil and are not of God so to insinuate that to get an abortion bill passed is sinful and God will deal with that senator.

Secondly, lets give credit to the people who do us wrong and stop blaming God for allowing these things to happen. God has given each and every one of us free will and He says in His Word, rain falls on the just i.e. good people and the unjust i.e. bad people (Matthew 5:45). What does this mean? It means when the rain fall out the sky it doesn't just fall on the bad people, it falls on everyone. Evil doesn't just single out bad people. Just like the rain, everyone can get showered with good or bad.  We need to stop being surprised that bad things happen because bad things have always happened. Is that what God wants for us? Of course NOT! However, as long as sin exists in this world this will always be a reality. God didn't cause bad things to happen. 

People do bad things to people. Point. Blank. Period.

Thirdly, God can give you beauty for ashes but it's not for me to make you see that. If something traumatic has happened to you, telling you that God will use this circumstance for your good is NOT comforting to a person. It may be true but its not comforting in that moment. Heck, its not comforting to me and I have been a Christian for 20 some odd years and I have that Bible verse memorized. When I had my miscarriage, the first thing most well meaning people would tell me is that everything works together for our good. In that moment though, I didn't really want to hear that. My heart was broken. I already knew that verse but in my grieving process it did not bring much comfort because I still suffered a loss. People who are dealing with a trauma are suffering a loss and they have to work that out however that looks to them. There are much better thing to say especially if you have no idea what that person has gone through. 

For me in my time of trauma, the following would have been a much better thing to say. 

I know it doesn't seem like it now but God is with you and can help you through this difficult time. And pray that God will speak to that person's heart.

or

What happened sucks! But no matter what it wasn't your fault and God loves you no matter what. And pray that God will speak to that person's heart.

or

I love you and I am here. And pray that God will speak to that person's heart.

or

I don't understand what this feels like but whatever you need, I got you. And pray that God will speak to that person's heart.

or

Say nothing at all and just be there. And pray that God will speak to that person's heart.

Notice after every one I said and pray? That's because the best thing you can do for that person is pray. Only God can give us joy instead of sorrow. Only God can give us hope instead of hopelessness. Only God can give us beauty for ashes. Only God can help us see that.

It angers me when we try to twist God Word for our own personal agendas but then again this isn't new either, its what the Pharisees were doing when Jesus came to earth the first time. That's why it is important to speak the truth in the face of these Pharisees.

God Does Give Beauty for Ashes but....

He would NEVER will harm into your life.

However, when bad things do happen (no one is immune from this) God will be there if you ask Him to be.

The Unlikely Missionary

DHW

Praise Break! He's Able

He's able!

Worship Him today!

The Unlikely Missionary

DHW

I Love You Lord

I love You Lord 

And I lift my voice 

To worship You 

O my soul rejoice 

Take joy my King 

In what You hear 

May it be a sweet sweet sound 

In Your ear

1978, 1980 House Of Mercy Music
 (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.)

The Unlikely Missionary

DHW

Singing in the Pain

It was a rough night for me last night.

I hold a lot of things in because I don't trust many people with my heart. So when I do and then it is stomped on something rises in my that makes me lash out. Then when its all over I'm broken.

But last night, as I sang my son to sleep I sang the song I love you Lord. And as the song soothed him it soothed me too. The one thing I never did before after being heartbroken was sing. Music is very spiritual for me. God speaks to me in and through music in a way that no one else can. Even after my son was asleep I kept on singing and my anger subsided and I just heard God tell me He loves me in spite of what other people say or try to label you as or do to you. I love you and I see you. You are important and special to me.

Normally it would have taken me hours to go to sleep on a night like last night but it only took 20 mins. I woke up today, in a good place. Not because last night doesn't still hurt or that the words don't still sting. But because God is still in control of my life. No ones words or thoughts about me change the thoughts and plans God has for my life. I'm not going to change my plans. I'm going to sing through the pain and trust God will do what He said He will do.

He is with me ALWAYS and for that reason I rejoice and press forward.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

Trust God today! Give Him your past and trust Him with your present and future!

#HeHoldsMyFuture #HesAble #SingThroughThePain #Rejoice

The Unlikely Missionary

DHW

God Provides

Sometimes when life starts to close in on me God always find a way to reassure me that everything will be ok. Today it came in the form of a song from my sister.

Being a follower of Christ doesn't mean that you don't worry about things. It means that when the worries come you have someone that you can turn to and He will ALWAYS provide what we need. That is His promise and being reminded of that meant everything to me this morning.

So listen to Tamela and be encouraged because God does and ALWAYS will provide.

The Unlikely Missionary

DHW

I Am - CeCe Winans

I am the one, yes, I created the whole universe

Greater than anything in heaven and in all the earth

It's my air you breathe, so I'm the one that you should please

I am the one you need, why should you be alone?

I am that I am, I'm all that you need

I can, yes, I can, no, it ain't too hard for me

Do you know, really know, do you really believe?

Every day, every night of your life, I am

It hurts my heart indeed to see those whom I love in need

Knowing all I wonder, why they never call on me

If you just ask and I can satisfy you with the things

I'll give you everything, yes, you can have it all

I tell the sun to rise, the wind to blow, the rain to fall

I move the mountains and the oceans, rivers great and small

Yes, everything I made I want to hear them give me praise

Especially you, my children each and every day

I am that I am, I'm all that you need

I can, yes, I can, no, it ain't too hard for me

Do you know, really know, do you really believe?

Everyday, every night of your life

I am

The Unlikely Missionary

DHW

Discouraged

Can I be real for a minute? I have been quite discouraged recently. And this post is not going to be about coming out the other side. I am still in that place. I've personally been dealing with somethings where life, no matter how hard you work doesn't get better. And everywhere you turn - on the news, social media, the White House - there always is something else to take the wind out of your sails.

And when you are in the midst it is hard to see the other side.

As a Christian I know that trouble don't last always and that joy comes in the morning. I know the stories of Paul and Peter and John the Baptist who suffered much worse than I but discouragement is this animal that doesn't care about what you know it just pulls you under.

Its at these times that I pray harder. Its at these times when I cry the most tears. Its at these times that I recognize that my strength alone cannot change my situation. It is hard in these times.

But I have to remind myself that I have been here before and that God has brought me out. That in my weakness God is made strong. That in times of extreme pressure is when you become refined.

But I hate being here and if I knew how to get out of this place faster I would. I am thankful that I don't walk this road alone. That in my darkest times Jesus is my comfort, strength and hope. That on the days when I don't want to get out of bed God opens my my eyes and starts me on my way. That when I want to give up He lets me know, Damaris its not over yet. That as I seek to encourage myself God presses songs and scriptures of encouragement into my spirit.

So I cannot end this post saying that I have been delivered and I cannot say that everything is turned around for me. But I do know for certain that the sun will come out, that each day God has given me breath there are new mercies to be had and new lessons to learn. That because of God I have a reason to live. That no weapon formed against me shall prosper. That no matter who is in office or in authority over me God has the final say. Though my physical body may be enslaved by my circumstances, my soul is free.

Though I am discouraged now that is not my permanent state and I AM is with me.

The Unlikely Missionary

DHW