May 8 From Ashes to Beauty

 Theme: God’s Correction Leads to Restoration

Arlene Johnson Mc Leod
Kings SDA Church

"Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal."

— Job 5:17-18 (NIV)

Life often hands us seasons where everything feels as if they are being taken away—dreams falling apart, relationships going haywire, health issues, hope dimmed. It can feel like all that's left is ashes. In those moments, it’s easy to question God’s love and presence. However, Job reminds us that even when God allows correction, it is not to destroy us, but to rebuild and restore us.

God’s correction is an act of divine love-not rejection. His hands, though they may allow temporary wounding, are the very hands that tenderly heal and bind us up. When God tears down, it is only to build something more beautiful, stronger, and lasting in its place. What feels like the end is often the beginning of His greatest work in us. Help us to TRUST YOU, LORD-through every season.

In Scripture, ashes symbolize grief and repentance—but God promises to exchange our ashes for beauty (Isaiah 61:3). His restoration is not just patching up the old but creating something entirely new. His discipline directs us back to Him, realigns our hearts, and prepares us to walk in the fullness of His purpose.

Today, if you are walking through a season of correction or loss, lift your eyes. Trust the hands that both wound and heal. Trust that beauty is already on its way. From the ashes of yesterday, God is crafting a breathtaking masterpiece of tomorrow. What a feeling of total assurance!

Life Lessons:

• God's correction is evidence of His deep love, not His anger.
• Seasons of loss or discipline are not permanent; they are the groundwork for restoration.
• True beauty often rises from the places of our deepest surrender to God.

Reflection:

Take a moment to reflect on an area of your life that feels broken or barren. Ask God to show you how He might be using this season to rebuild you stronger. Remember: your ashes are not your end—they are the soil in which God’s beauty will bloom.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You that Your correction is filled with mercy and Your wounds lead to healing. When life feels broken and all I see is ashes, help me to trust that You are working behind the scenes, turning my sorrow into beauty. Teach me to embrace Your loving discipline and to wait patiently for Your restoration. I surrender every broken piece to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Arlene Johnson McLeod

Kings SDA