Beauty For Ashes

"The Spirit of the sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor." Isaiah 61: 1 - 3 (NIV)

The Lord has given me beauty for the ashes of my past. I previously wrote how the Lord had restored my vineyards while I was in my own "Valley of Achor". I want to share a specific way that God gave me beauty for ashes in this season of my life.

In the autumn of 2004 I took a Bridging Course for Women sponsored by Women's Studies at York University. I had seen this course advertised a year previously, but it was on an evening that I was actively involved in an intercessory prayer group. When my world fell apart and I was left with ashes I needed something to distract me from the temptation to indulge in self-pity. I again saw an advertisement for the Bridging Program and it was taking place in my hometown on a Tuesday evening. I knew that I didn't have any excuses as to why I could not take part.

Part of the requirements for this course were written assignments, including an essay. The Lord blessed me and I received favorable marks. I even had the opportunity to share a bit about my faith in Jesus. This was definitely a stretching experience since I had not been in school for many years. I did not pursue a university education, but the experience of taking this course and doing so well gave me confidence to step out into other areas as well.

In January of 2006 the professor who taught the Bridging Program emailed me with a request for me to submit a personal essay about my experience in the Bridging Program. It was the 25th Anniversary of the Bridging Program for Women at York University and they were publishing a book to commemorate it. I was one of thirty-six Bridging students who were chosen from about 1500 to contribute a personal essay.

God continued to show His timing and plan for my life when the book launch and the anniversary celebration occurred in May of 2006. I was involved in a Bible Study by Beth Moore called Breaking Free. We studied the chapter that was titled Beauty For Ashes the week immediately after the anniversary celebration at York University, where I had received a copy of the book. I could now say that I was published! I shared this news with some of the women at two Bible studies that I was involved in and they rejoiced with me. I attended my first Christian writers' group, which was in that same week. I shared with those present about me taking the Bridging Course and the study on Beauty for Ashes; I then read my essay to them. After they clapped! I was in awe of God's timing and blessings.