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“Those who look to Him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.”  Psalm 34:5 (ESV)

Beauty is often uncovered in the most unlikely places. Like a hidden gem buried just waiting to rise up from under the surface. Beauty isn’t always pretty; it’s often messy and hard leaving us focused on the ugly versus the potential of awe inspiring gorgeous. Like when heavy fog lifts and a glimmer of sunlight beams through at just the right moment. Like a dark storm cloud drenching us in rain while a rainbow emerges down the road. Like a hard season can blind us to the grace and mercy of another day.

Perhaps you’ve ventured down this path with me – this journey of longing for the ease of life because it looks better on us. The visible carefree life appearing more desirable than the undoing of ourselves. The joy dance more appealing than tear stained cheeks and a broken heart. Laughter is desired over sorrow, and so we buy into the illusion that only goodness follows the faithful.

We miss out, sweet friends when we shortchange the beauty God is birthing in the midst of our hardest places. Journeys we dared not even imagine. A crumbling of self preservation to unveil the vulnerable places in our souls. Intentional fruitfulness disguised as challenges and trials. A grand stewardship of God’s story entrusted to us.

So what would happen if instead of fighting against hard, we embraced it? Rather than wallow in our challenges, we’d purposefully choose to feel them and run into the arms of  Jesus. What if our days of being unable to give voice to our hearts simply birthed our deepest worship?

Wonder how we could endure the unthinkable and still land on our feet secure in His solid foundation? Unshakeable. Unmoveable. Weathering the storm – changed forever because we sought refuge in Him. Clinging to God’s every word fully aware He’s heard all of ours – self-pity, frustration, fear, disappointment and sheer desperation – yet He never leaves or forsakes us.

Despite our abundance of doubts and questions, our Father God welcomes us to draw near – lingering, learning and  trusting. Blessed are those who take refuge in Him, and those who seek Him lack no good thing (Psalm 34). Ever so gently He binds up our wounds. He heals our brokenness. He cleanses us from any revealed sins. He restores our soul. He tenderly guides us each step of the way unveiling the hidden gem within us. He lovingly holds us, carries us until we can walk again forever changed by His presence. Totally dependent and void of self, the radiance on our face evidence of  beauty God is developing within us.

You, sweet friend, are never more beautiful than when you rise up from the hardest places reflecting the love, truth and grace of our God. Shining through the darkest nights. Birthing hope in those whose journeys are just beginning. Reflecting the immense beauty developed within you because you have been with Jesus.

“Father, Your presence with us transforms the hardest places into precious moments when Your love covers, heals and creates a beauty in us we would have never known.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life