Beauty for Ashes – I AM Beautiful
When there is a fire, the heat intensifies and the light illuminates. Fire, although captivating, is an extremely powerful element. Just one flame can cause a wildfire. Some see fire as a danger; some use it for warmth; some use it for purifying; either way, let us agree—fire is a fierce element. The result of fiery flames is small black ashes. The ashes are so tiny that they can only be collected in abundance. This accumulation of these ashes is soot. This soot is easy to smear but difficult to clean up and wash off. This filthy soot, heaps of ashes, is not just an indication that a fire has occurred; it is evidence that the fire has ended. Yes, this is a metaphor, but if you consider it spiritually, you can begin to respond to the evidence of ashes with joy.
Have you ever been in a fire like situation in your life that you thought would never end? The flames were so bright and the heat was so hot that just a glimpse of ashes would give you joy. How could a glimpse of ashes end your fear of the fire that you are in? How can you withstand fire with hope and expectation? Do you have faith in what will be left after the fire? Many questions arise while one is in a fire because there is an immediate focus on surviving and not succumbing.
Realize that everyone will not witness the various fires that have happened in their life nor will everyone who witnessed your fires, acknowledge the residue of the ashes. Some will talk about your soot instead of your survival. When you focus on surviving what you thought would have overtaken you, you see your ashes as a sign of beauty.
According to the Bible, “Console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified” (Isaiah 61:3). This scripture solidifies that God will takes ashes that are naturally seen as filthy and trade them for beauty. Therefore, your beauty is not based on or enhanced by the external application of makeup or approval of others. When you declare I AM beautiful, you affirm that the fire from within you did not consume you—it fueled you!