Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Reconciliation and Restoration-Beauty for Ashes
By Jeannine Sawall

“…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.”

“He better not think he’s going to come into your life now after I’ve done all the hard work. You’re MY daughter! He CAN’T have you!” The response from my mom shocked me. I thought she would be glad to hear my bio-dad Larry was interested in a relationship after all these years. The Lord had worked healing in mighty ways in my mom’s life and she was a ministry leader offering hope of restoration and reconciliation to women who had experienced brokenness. Did she not see maybe this was God working to restore and reconcile THIS broken relationship?

“Mom, we don’t even know how this relationship will play out. Maybe we’ll keep in touch through Christmas cards, or maybe we’ll have another guest at the boys’ birthday parties.” “Well, if Larry is there. I won’t be there!” My mom was struggling with unresolved feelings of abandonment, rejection and heartbreak. She had become pregnant while she and Larry had been dating and while they had become engaged and planned a future together, life didn’t quite work out that way. She felt left with ashes.

Several weeks later, after a promising meeting with Larry, I asked my mom how she was doing with the whole “Larry thing.” She responded by saying, “I’m good.” She explained she and God had wrestled and He showed her exactly where He wanted her to be. I asked her what “being good” looked like if Larry came to my son’s birthday party. She responded she’d happily be there.

God had done His restoring work in my mom. She had made an about-face. God had shown her while her path had a few more twists and turns, her response to His love and healing had brought her to a place of spiritual prosperity. He had exchanged beauty for ashes and the splendor of God’s divine work in her life was now bringing glory to Him. Despite poor choices, when we respond in obedience to the Lord, He works to restore us and turns our mourning into joy.

Only our God could be at work like that and I’m thankful my mom chose to be teachable to His will. But He wasn’t done teaching me about reconciliation and redemption. Tomorrow, the story continues.

GOING DEEPER:
  1. Where in your life can you be teachable to God’s plan and allow Him to exchange ashes for beauty?
  2. Who can you share your restoration story with?


FURTHER READING:


Jeannine is a wife and mother of four great boys. She works in the property management business. Jeannine serves in several behind-the-scenes ministries at Oakwood and has a heart for those who are grieving.