Isaiah 61:1&3 "He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted...to give them an ornament of beauty instead of ashes."

Happy Friday, blog readers.

It is very... off color... for me to write on a Friday evening. But hey, that's okay. When I feel prompted, I write.

Tonight with a not so light heart after a not so joyful week, I have been hit with a slight conviction.

I have come to a self righteous place in my life. A place where I have come to think I have laid all my burdens at the cross. That I have traded all my ashes in for beauty. That I am not hiding anything, nor am I still trying to hold onto anything. 

Thing is, I realized I was still covered in a lot of ash. Ash that has been covered up for a long time. Covered with new steps. New chapters. New things that have concealed it, only to have it wear off and still be there. Waiting on me. 

Throughout this week the lyrics from "At the foot of the cross" have been playing on repeat in my mind

I trade these ashes in for beauty. I wear forgiveness like a crown. Coming to kiss the feet of mercy. I lay every burden down.

Could not figure out why. Had not heard the song recently, but tonight, it makes sense. 

Scrolling through old pictures, playing the Facebook catch up game and such; and here came the thought "I think I have some buried burdens and hurt." Instantly I felt the Lord say "Bingo!"

I have past hurt from past relationships of all sorts. 
Betrayals. Lies. Bad choices. Pain. Hurt. Anger. Abandonment. 

Open wounds in my heart that I had never taken the time to work through. So much so that the reason I probably stay so busy is so I don't have to sit still. When I sit still those wounds start to seep open again.

For years upon years I have stayed busy to avoid them. To almost in a sense run from them. What has really happened is I have allowed them to grow. Almost laying dormant, gathering more and more and more waiting to explode. Instead of taking time to walk through the healing process, I have totally avoided it. 

Tonight, it's like God is saying "now trade those ashes in for beauty. Lay those burdens down at the foot of the cross, and be healed. Lets walk through those buried places, and let Me heal them. They have been waiting. I have been waiting. " 

I know that I am not the only one walking through a situation like this. The only one who has come to realize that desire to buy new clothes will never cover it. That the new job will never make it go away. That the newest hair style and make up will never make you feel healed. That even getting busy for the Lord will not help it go away.

I know that this may hit a special place in your heart tonight as you read this. I pray that it does, but not in a painful way. I pray that it reaches you in a peaceful way. A healing way. 

It's time for us to walk through old wounds. new wounds. buried burdens and hurt. and be healed.

I have not the slightest idea how God is going to work through those places in my heart (or yours) that need healing, but I know it will be good, and it is long overdue. 

Now, as I trade my ashes in for beauty, I pray that you do the same.


Happy healing.


Isaiah 61:1-3 

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound,

To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord [the year of His favor] [a]and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,

To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion—to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit—that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.


-B