💔 Grief Devotional – October 12: Beauty From the Ashes 💔

💔 Grief Devotional – October 12: Beauty From the Ashes 💔

“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.”—Isaiah 61:3 (KJV)

Six years ago today, my life changed forever. I received the call no mother should ever have to answer—the call that my amazing son, Michael, had been taken from this world by violence. The pain was unbearable. The breath left my body, and my heart shattered in a way I didn’t know was possible.

There are still days when it feels unreal, when I expect to hear his voice or see his smile. The ache of missing him never leaves—it simply becomes part of who I am. But through the tears, through the heartbreak, God has walked with me.

He has taught me that forgiveness does not make what happened “okay”—it makes it survivable. Forgiveness doesn’t excuse the pain; it releases its hold on your soul. God whispered to my heart, “Vengeance is mine… I’ve got this.” And in that moment, I realized that forgiveness wasn’t for the man who took my son—it was for me.

Through His mercy, God has taken the ashes of my pain and brought forth beauty. He has given me purpose—to reach others walking through the valley of grief and help them find hope again. The scars remain, but they shine with His healing light.

Today, as I remember Michael, I choose to honor his life by loving deeply, forgiving fully, and trusting that God will make all things right in His time. Because even in the deepest sorrow, the Lord is faithful. He brings life where there was loss, peace where there was pain, and beauty where there were ashes.

Reflection for Today: Is there a hurt in your heart that God is asking you to release? Forgiveness may not change what happened, but it will change what happens within you.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for holding me through the pain I thought I couldn’t bear. Thank You for reminding me that vengeance belongs to You and that forgiveness brings freedom. Help me to keep walking in Your peace, to find beauty in the ashes, and to share Your love with others who are hurting. Amen.