Pain into Promise

Just two years ago, I visited my mom with the intention of bringing her home with me for a visit. As she was at the doctors that day before we traveled home, I decided to clean up her room and I listened to music as I sorted through clothes and organized. The song “Graves in Gardens” by Brandon Lake/Elevation Worship played and I remember suddenly being halted by the words and felt God’s presence in such a beautiful way. I spent the next 5-10 minutes in what I can only explain as feeling joy being poured out on me.

What I didn’t know in that moment was that my parents were receiving news that my mom had just weeks to live. My heart was being prepared.

“You turn mourning to dancing You give beauty for ashes You turn shame into glory You're the only one who can”

I could write my story here…and depending on how I wrote it would influence how you felt because like many, the tragedy of losing my mom is just one story of many that wanted to break me. But rather, I hope you will always see a light within me that comes from only One who can restore graves into gardens. He makes me smile when I see the sun rise every morning. My God ❤️ The author of my story.

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭61‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭ESV‬‬