“...to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes.” (Is. 61:3 NIV)

In Old Testament biblical times people sat in ashes or covered themselves with ashes to express mourning or loss, such as grief over a distressing situation (2 Sam 13:19), grief over a national disaster (Esther 4:1), or grief associated with repentance from one's own sin (Jonah 3:5-7). The promise of "beauty for ashes" is a promise to God's people that He planned to deliver them from their plight and to ultimately send them the Messiah.

God’s promise of redemption

“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, 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.

Jesus is God’s answer to His promise of giving “beauty for ashes”

Today, we turn to Jesus for encouragement and hope when facing difficult circumstances. Jesus said...

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free. Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”    (Luke 4:18-21 NIV)

 “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints.” (2 Cor. 14:33 ESV)

God is not the author of confusion

The Bible says that God had created everything and that it was “good” (Gen. 1:31). But then the devil corrupted it with sin and caused the world to have confusion and disorder.  “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil” (John 3:8 ESV)

The devil subjected the world to corruption but God brings freedom from its bondage

“For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” (Rom. 8:19-21 ESV)

Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil

“The one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8 NASB)

Jesus has overcome the world

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John. 16:33 ESV)

Do all things decently and in order

“But all things should be done decently and in order.” (1 Cor. 14:40 ESV)

 “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” (Rom. 12:12 ESV)

Be steadfast in prayer

“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” (Col. 4:2 ESV)

Pray always without ceasing

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (2 Thess. 5:16-18 ESV)

Pray at all times in the Spirit

“Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.” (Eph. 6:18 ESV)

Call to God and He will answer

“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” (Jer. 33:3 ESV)

The Spirit will intercede for you according to God’s will

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (Rom. 8:26-27 ESV)

 “The Lord has remembered us; he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron; he will bless those who fear the Lord, both the small and the great. May the Lord give you increase, you and your children! May you be blessed by the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalms 115:12-15 ESV)

God is a wonderful and generous blesser!

He blesses all who trust in Him and He also blesses those who don’t trust in Him (Matt. 5:45). In the Old Testament there is a list of blessings and curses (Deut. 28). The blessings were for those who obeyed the law and the curses were for those who didn’t obey the law. In the New Testament we read that Jesus died to redeem us from the curse of the law. “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us...” (Gal. 3:13 NIV). Therefore, we are totally set free from the curse of the law!

Because Jesus has redeemed you from “the curse of the law, you now have the blessings listed below

“And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. “The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.The Lord will command the blessing on you in your barns and in all that you undertake. And he will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.The Lord will establish you as a people holy to himself, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in his ways. And all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you. And the Lord will make you abound in prosperity, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your livestock and in the fruit of your ground, within the land that the Lord swore to your fathers to give you. The Lord will open to you his good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands. And you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you shall only go up and not down, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, being careful to do them, and if you do not turn aside from any of the words that I command you today, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.” (Deut. 28:1-14 ESV)

And finally...

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” (Num. 6:24-26 ESV)

 “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Gal. 6:2 NIV)

There are a number of beggars within my community who regularly hold “Please help” cardboard signs along prominent road intersections. I never give to them because they are not really the “poor and needy” but they actually acquire lots of cash doing the begging business. I do believe, however, that we are commanded by God to help the truly poor and needy who are around us. Susan and I support local food banks, the rescue mission, the Salvation Army and our church humanitarian programs. We also personally and privately do whatever we can to help others as God directs us.

You show your love to God by helping His people

“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” (Heb. 6:10 NIV)

“But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?” (1 John 3:17 ESV)

“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” (Heb. 13:16 ESV)

Look to the interest of others

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Phil. 2:4 ESV)

Let your light shine to give glory to God

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 5:16 ESV)

 “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” (Psalm 42:11 ESV)

We’re not crushed, forsaken or destroyed!

“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” (2 Cor. 4:8-9 ESV)

Don’t lean on your own understanding

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Prov. 3:5-6 ESV)

Don’t be anxious about anything

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7 ESV)

God will give you strength

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13 ESV)

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (Isa. 40:28-31 ESV)

 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11 NIV)

He’s coming to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him

“So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” (Heb. 9:28 ESV)

Every eye will see Him

“Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.” (Rev. 1:7 ESV)

We will be caught up together and meet Him in the air

“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.” (2 Thess. 4:16-17 ESV)

You must be ready

“Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Matt. 24:42-44 ESV)

May you be kept blameless at His coming

“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thess. 5:23 ESV)

“And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:39-44 ESV)

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to test you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.” (1 Peter 4:12 NKJV)

We can have peace during trials

Being a Christian doesn’t exempt us from problems and trials of various kinds. Jesus said we would have them because we live in this fallen world. But He said to take heart and have peace because He has overcome the world.

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 ESV)

Remain steadfast during trials and be blessed

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12 ESV)

The testing of your faith during trials produces steadfastness

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.” (James 1:2-8 ESV)

God will restore, conform, strengthen, and establish you

“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” (1 Peter 5:10 ESV)

Therefore…

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” (Rom. 12:12 ESV)

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” (Rom. 8:5-6 ESV)

We choose what we set our minds on

The above passage says we can choose to set our minds on things of the flesh (carnal things) or things of the Spirit (Spiritual things). One leads to death and one leads to life, and we personally decide which one we set our minds on.

Be transformed by renewing your mind

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Rom. 12:2 ESV)

Take your thoughts captive to obey Christ

“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:5 ESV)

Think about these things

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Phil. 4:8 ESV)

Therefore…

“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” (Prov. 4:23 ESV)