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So many of us have spent much of our lives surrounded by ashes, and without even realizing it, we’ve treated the best parts of ourselves—the parts we took pride in and showcased to the world—as meaningful, when in reality, they were just ashes too. We hadn’t yet tasted what real life could be. We didn’t know who we were truly created to be—our authentic selves—because the ashes of life had clouded our vision and blinded us.
The Ashes of Our Lives
Think of ashes as the leftover residue from the fires created by negative experiences, from childhood through adulthood—moments that slowly wrapped us in an identity shaped by everything that happened to us, often without us even realizing it. Our sense of self never felt fully settled because those experiences pushed us in so many different directions, convincing us that we were all these different things, shaped by the people and situations around us.
The Fire That Shapes Us
But the truth is, those experiences and people didn’t reveal different pieces of who we were. They pointed to the parts of us that were hurting and had never truly healed. And because we’re often disconnected from who we really are, we can start to confuse our internal struggles with being unique, adaptable, or even mysterious. The truth is, you are so much more than the ashes. There is a version of you that you might not even recognize if she walked through the door—because you lost touch with her a long time ago. You might even judge that version of you in others, not realizing that you long for the same level of freedom to express yourself that they have.
The Impossible Made Possible
Now, back to the ashes. Scientifically speaking, when you burn something, it’s called a chemical reaction. This means that no matter what you do, you can never return it to its original form. The ashes of your life can never go back to being what they were before the damage of the fire.
And this is where God comes in. Only God can do what is humanly impossible. As Jesus says in Matthew 19:26, “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'” God doesn’t just give you new life—He goes back into the fire of your past with you, redeeming and healing even the darkest, hottest places you’ve been. And do you know what He gives you in return? Beauty. He takes the worst of your memories and hands you beauty instead.
Beauty in the Midst of Ashes
You can think of beauty as healing—something people gaze at, mesmerized by. No longer do you have to work yourself to be approved by others or strive to hide who you truly are. Little by little, your beauty becomes evident to those around you who desperately need to trade in their ashes for the same healing.
Your Invitation to Healing
Friend, let this post be your sign to let Jesus grab you by the hand and lead you out of the ashes into the beauty He has waiting for you. Because when He heals you, He doesn’t just restore what was lost; He reveals who you were always meant to be. Through His healing, you’ll begin to see yourself as He sees you—whole, loved, and free. The ashes of your past no longer define you, because healing leads to clarity. You’ll start to uncover the truest version of yourself, the one you were always meant to be. And in that discovery, you’ll find a peace and freedom that will carry you through life with confidence and grace. You are more than the ashes. You are a masterpiece in the making.
