On our honeymoon, we visited Capulin Volcano on a whim. We decided we might not ever get to see a volcano again. Capulin is just across the New Mexico border coming back from Colorado.As we were driving up we saw scrub brush and cactus and lots of gray dirt. When we got to the rim, I couldn't believe my eyes. The inside of the crater was bursting with life. It was green and lush with dozens of different kinds of plants. One bush was completely covered in ladybugs. Every step brought new amazing sights. When we mentioned this at the visitor's center, the workers told us that the volcanic ash makes the most fertile soil. It was astonishing that so much beauty and growth could come from something as destructive and catastrophic as a volcano.
Isn't that just like God? Not only is he the Creator that formed the volcano in the first place but he recreated something beautiful out of the ruin He can do the same for us What areas in your life has he redeemed? Sometimes it looks like a situation is so painful and bitter that nothing good can ever come from it. For me some of those have been a miscarriage, an angry, destructive teenager and struggles with depression and anxiety. These were things that were so hard that I was sure that God could not use them for good. I know the verses but for some reason I decided that either these things were not included in the list of "all things that God works together for good." (Romans 8:28) Either that or I had not done enough good deeds to balance the scale. I was wrong, though, and God has used them. Some of them have been used to shape me and teach me dependence on God. Some have been used to make me more compassionate and helpful to others in the same situation. I have been able to listen to them or give them a hug and prove that it can be overcome. I have also received hope from others who have been in similar situations, who probably felt the same way I did.
One of the verses that got me through these times was Isaiah 61:1-3.It reads like this.
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]
2 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, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
One of my life verses is Isaiah 43:1-3.
But now, this is what the Lord says—
he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
3 For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior
Another of my favorites is one you may not have seen. It is in Micah 7:8.
8 Do not gloat over me, my enemy!
Though I have fallen, I will rise.
Though I sit in darkness,
the Lord will be my light.
9 Because I have sinned against him,
I will bear the Lord’s wrath,
until he pleads my case
and upholds my cause.
He will bring me out into the light;
I will see his righteousness.
10 Then my enemy will see it
and will be covered with shame.
So many other verses echo these thoughts. If we release our hurts to God he can make them fertile soil for growth and service. I urge you not to fall in to the trap of holding onto anger and resentment, as tempting as it is for all of us. These are the scrub brush and cactus of our spiritual lives. may your ashes be turned into beauty.
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