At The Foot Of The Cross

"I believe God is good and that something good will come from this" was my pad answer in January.  I believed it but I didn't know how it would all work out.  I believed, truly believed, God would make beauty from the ashes but the "HOW" part was the big question.  Through recent devotion time, impromptu meetings with friends and watching God perform miracles I have seen His strength and beauty.

God has revealed to me in two separate conversations that He has protected myself and my family from what I thought would be harsh judgement.  People didn't realize the pain I had struggled with over the past few months.  They had no idea that "I was THAT Melissa."  To me, it was the most encouraging news I had received because it showed that God was helping me change into the person He wanted me to be through this time of refinement.  He is teaching me moment by moment, that He is trading my suffering for beauty, true beauty, His beauty.  It is only at the foot of the cross that he makes me complete.  I don't think I would have ever learned that without the past 7 months of crisis.  So suffering stinks... it always will.  But over a period of time, we will see beauty come from it, as we trust in God.  Now. not only can I say with confidence, "I believe God is good and that something good will come from this" but I can share how God has changed my life.  Hopefully one day that will be an encouragement to others.

"Jesus thank you tonight that you take the broken places in our lives, Lord and make them new.
Take the bitterness Lord and make it sweet,  The destitute places in our lives Lord, you give us hope.
Lord for the ashes of our life Lord, you give us beauty
Clothe us with your beauty Jesus.
Its your unfailing love Lord, that keeps giving into our lives
You're beautiful to us tonight Jesus"