Isaiah 63:1 states that Jesus Christ would return to give us beauty for ashes. What does this mean, and how do we benefit from it today?
This scripture found in Isaiah is widely accepted as a prophecy of Jesus Christ returning to redeem His people, Israel. The condition of brokenness serves as the basis for Christ’s intervention to save us. Scripture declares that He was sent to “heal the brokenhearted and preach deliverance to the captives.“
In the book of Luke (Luke 4:18), Jesus read this same scripture (Isaiah 61) while speaking in the synagogue. Then He said, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” Here we see that Jesus is the fulfillment of this scripture in that He is the one upon whom the Spirit of the Lord is, and He has come to bring good news to us who believe.
In verse 3 of Isaiah 61, we find the famous line, “To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” To sum it all up, Jesus Christ wants to give us beauty for our ashes as we believe and trust in Him.
To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified. – Isaiah 61:3
What Does Beauty For Ashes Look Like
As the phrase implies ‘Beauty for Ashes’ is when Christ turns all our mess into a beautiful message. It is when all things work together for our good as we believe and trust God.
Consider the ugliness of a broken place and the soul burning effect of the wounds we often have to endure. There are people who have travelled with nail prints in their hearts. At one point this was my story but Christ turned it into HIStory.
Imagine all this ugliness and brokenness and heavy heartedness eventually transforming you into a much more valuable and wholesome individual. My brokenness has been an oil press that has pressed out God’s goodness out of me. God wants to do the same with you, to trade His beauty for your ashes.
How Do We Receive Beauty For Ashes
To answer this question, we must delve further into the Word of God. It is the final authority and the basis of our daily living. When I say “our,” I am referring to those of us who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The good news is that Christ is just a call away.
The scripture specifically states that Christ came to heal the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, open prison doors for those who are bound, and comfort those who mourn in Zion (Isaiah 61:1-2). If you fall into any of these categories, then this word is for you.
Are you bound by the circumstances you are experiencing? Is your burden too heavy for you to bear? Do you carry a broken heart? Are you willing to allow Jesus Christ to heal your broken heart and bind up your wounds? If you answered yes to any of these, then Christ wants to give you beauty for your ashes.
The only condition is that you believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. You can contact us if you would like assistance in accepting Christ. Ultimately, it is your decision, but we can guide you through this process.
Beauty Will Make Our Ashes Make Sense
I am currently working on a podcast with my brother, Jermaine James. At one point, we were discussing how wonderful it is to help broken people heal through this podcast. One thing that stood out in this conversation is when Jermaine said, “This podcast has the ability to make all our troubles make sense.” When I say “beauty for ashes,” this is what I mean—when all of our troubles finally make sense.
As I meditated on these words, I was moved deeply because I have also gone through a profoundly broken place. The most precious outcome would be for all this brokenness to make sense. This will happen when the product of our brokenness is much more beautiful than what we started with. This is similar to the Japanese custom of repairing broken pottery with gold, making the repaired pottery much more beautiful and valuable.
Consider the broken road we often have to tread. Often, this road leaves us so broken that it would be precious for it to make sense. As Paul was engulfed in his troubles, he prayed three times for God to remove the thorn from his flesh. Paul was so broken, yet God didn’t take away this thorn; instead, He strengthened him through it.
Even though this might be a hard saying, this was just God giving Paul beauty for ashes. This thorn was mining gold from Paul, as we see through his writings and revelations. Imagine if Paul had never gone through this broken place. Do you think he would be able to write so beautifully? Today, Paul’s writings serve as doctrine for us.
You too can receive beauty for your ashes
As you walk through your own broken place, be encouraged. You too can receive beauty for your ashes as you continue to believe. You might feel like you have been overwhelmed by the trials you are experiencing, but know that these same trials are working out God’s goodness in you.
Hold on. The beauty that is being worked out is the wisdom of God. Only God can give us beauty for ashes. If we try to do it on our own, all we will get is double trouble. Yet when we put our trust in God, He will give us double for this same trouble.
Consider Jesus Christ as He marched to the cross. What would be more beautiful: Jesus on the cross or us dying in our sins? The most beautiful thing that has happened in human history is the story of salvation. This story is the reason we are able to receive beauty in our brokenness. Jesus gave us hope when He died on that old rugged cross. Yet this hope was wrought in brokenness. How beautiful!
Hold On to Christ
The fact that only Jesus Christ can give us beauty for ashes means that we must forever hold on to Him. It might be hardest to hold on when everything is forcing us to let go, but we have what it takes to persevere until the very end. We must finish well, and to do so, we must hold on.
Gold Can Only Be Processed In Fire
10 Scriptures to help you endure your brokenness
1. "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
2. "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."
3. "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
4. "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
5. "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."
6. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
7. "Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."
8. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
9. "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."
10. "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name."
