I often wonder about the Samaritan woman who had the privilege of meeting Jesus at the well. What was she like before that day?

I imagine she was beautiful; so beautiful that she stood out amongst her peers.

Yet beneath the surface of her ravishing beauty, was a woman scorned and abhorred by those around her.

I imagine she carefully hid a well of emotional pain beneath her veil, and her struggle with depression and low self esteem was safely tucked away from the curious glare of inquisitive eyes.

You see, her life story wasn’t like those of the other women in her village. No, far from it.

Her personal life was in shambles and everyone knew it; but instead of embracing her, they derided her and made her the evening walk’s gossip.

Undeniably, her hurt ran deep. And though she trained herself to become numb to the pain of rejection, her wounds grew still.

And even when she taught herself to endure the heat of the midday sun in order to fetch water in isolation, her wounds grew still.

And though to the naked eye she was a sight of beauty, from the viewpoint of the Spirit, she was a walking heap of ashes.

This Samaritan woman had a limp that no one perceived. She had issues that her peers were negligent of, and her value was discounted by everyone who whispered her name in anger.

However, that day at the well, when she met with Jesus, her life was transformed and her broken spirit was mended.

For many, the trauma of our pasts act as a prison that holds us bound, and the truth is that many of us walk around hiding deep emotional wounds that fester behind the veil of our smiles.

These wounds result from broken relationships, devastating past events, forms of abuse, rape, assault, rejection, abandonment, just to name a few.

But Christ sees what we hide inside; He sees the wet pillowcases that bear the evidence that you cry even in your sleep. He sees the pang of rejection you feel whenever your mind drifts to certain memories, and He’s aware of the barriers you erect to protect yourself from ever being hurt again.

Today, God is calling for your attention; don’t hide from Him.

No, really, don’t hide from Him that one place that hurts the most.

Today, allow Him to reach deep inside and make all things new.

He promises to give you deep emotional healing for your deep emotional pain.

He promises to give you beauty in place of your ashes.

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me … To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Isaiah 61:1-3

by Kerri-Ann Haye-Donawa

7 Responses to Beauty for Ashes

  1. Gertha C. says:

    Thanks for writing this article. It gave me confirmation on what God was doing in my life. It also lets me know no matter what I been through Jesus’s overwhelming love is always there for me, and shall heal me.
    Thanks

  2. paul choo says:

    Reading this posting comforts me much from offence from people.
    Thanks to God for consoling me???

  3. Rachelle says:

    We all will not escape this world with deep emotional or physical pain from our lives however there is healing in Jesus and He takes our life and turns it around so we can face our futures with faith and know we are headed off to a better place.

  4. Agnes Ngingo says:

    How beautiful and very encouraging this message. Yes we have closets full of all kinds of hurts but we have been reminded to take it all to Jesus who sees from deep within.

    Thank you and God bless you for that wonderful message.

  5. Beverly Bridges says:

    Beautiful! Than you!!!!

  6. Ramona says:

    Extremely beautiful article and right on spot as to the feelings masked by a smile. May our Jesus remove the pain from all hearts that are burdened and heavy. God bless you!

  7. Carolyn says:

    I appreciate your message as it reinforced what the Lord has been doing in my life. The Bible is so applicable to my/our everyday needs. I plan to share this blog with my workshop worship team. Worship only comes out of the healing God has done in our lives, to remove the barriers, so we can be more fully free to focus & worship God. Thanks again for your ministry.

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