Rise from the Ashes
On Sunday, May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens blew.
Everything disappeared under the volcano’s ash and heat.
- Trees
- Plants
- Houses
- Animals
- People
Yet, soon after, life began to rise from the ashes.
Plants grew. Animals returned. The land’s rebirth amazes all who see it.
Rise from the ashes comes from a myth about a bird.
The bird burns to death and then rises from the ashes.
However, the possibility of a fresh start is no myth. Anyone can begin again after hard times.
People must decide if they will rise from the ashes.
Will they refuse to allow a bad experience to keep them down? Or will they pick up the pieces of their life and keep going.
Sometimes people recover by themselves.
They heal from:
- Illness
- Job loss
- Death of a loved one
- Theft
- Failure
Other times people recover as a group.
They heal from:
- School shootings
- War
- Business failure
- Floods
- Fires
- Tornados
- Other man-made or natural disasters
With Jesus, anyone can rise from the ashes of sin and death.
When Jesus rose from the dead that first Easter morning, He defeated sin and death.
All who accept Jesus as Savior and Lord receive:
- Forgiveness of sin
- New life
- An eternal home in heaven
- Peace in all life’s storms
Not every problem disappears, but Jesus walks with believers through every problem.
“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay” (Matthew 28:6 NIV).
Have you had a rise from the ashes experience? If so, please comment.
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4 thoughts on “Rise from the Ashes”
My first marriage was attacked and destroyed by addiction. Eleven years later, there is still healing. From time to time, when I turn my head just so, and the winds of the enemy blow in a certain direction, I catch a whiff of smoke, taste the ash on my tongue.
But the Lord, He points to the sweet green of His vine – Jesus. Every now and again, He tugs at the grafting place just to reassure me that I am His and He is mine. It is a secure graft fashioned by His hands. I am safe from the threat of flame.
And I have learned to forgive. Thank you for a lovely post and the reminder that there is hope.
Thank you for sharing your story, Kristy. I know it will offer hope to others facing similar circumstances. How beautifully you conveyed the promise of God’s gift in the worst of times.
God’s in the business of transforming the ashes of our past into the beauty of being the one who comforts others with the comfort we received from God.
So true, Joy. Thank you for the comfort and encouragement you offer so many.