God’s healing creates beauty from ashes.

Japanese Kintsugi is an art form that rejoins broken pieces of pottery by using gold filling. Rather than making the pottery look new, Kintsugi highlights where the damaged parts have been repaired. The finished product is unique and beautiful in its own way. Additionally, it is stronger, more resilient, and more valuable because of the gold.

Ashes

God’s healing works the same way in us? He is the master artist who puts us back together stronger than we could have been without the injury.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

~Romans 8:28 ESV

My story is an example of God’s Kintsugi repair. During emotional childhood trauma, I somehow disowned parts of my soul for self-protection. By dissociating from emotions too scary to manage on my own, I blended in and kept significant people in my life happy. I believed that by not being a problem to anyone, I would be okay, they would be okay, and life would go on safely.

Of course, this was a lie because children need protection. They need to know they are loved and that someone bigger takes care of the scary things in life. Satan is the liar, and his mission is to steal, kill, and destroy by whatever means. By helping me to cope, he allowed the seeds of fear to grow and distrust to propagate.

When I became an adult, God allowed betrayal by my spouse and the resulting divorce to bring my emotions to the surface. Rejection and abandonment became actual experiences. The reality of my vulnerability as a single mother couldn’t be avoided. I needed help beyond myself. So, God led me to the gospel.

Beauty from Ashes

I believed and was saved at the age of thirty-three, but the process of revealing the lies buried deeply in my heart took many years. Looking back, I can see how God worked with patience to gain my trust and heal in layers, going ever deeper into the pain I had buried.

The process required courage, forgiveness, and ever-increasing trust for me to grow. In my weakness, Christ became my strength, so I could be like a piece of Kintsugi pottery with gold welding my seams together.

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 broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.

~Isaiah 61:1 ESV

Satan makes captives of those who believe his lies in their vulnerable state. Error binds us while truth frees us. Prisons don’t have to be buildings.

If you see yourself in my testimony, receive hope. Jesus was sent to set us free. The wisdom and compassion he works into us makes our lives all the more valuable in the process.

Father, I praise You for sending Your Son Jesus to set me free. Thank you for Your promise of “beauty for ashes” and “the oil of joy for mourning.” Bring this transformation about in me or someone whom I love. Thank You, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2024: Beauty from Ashes: Caroline Powers: All Rights Reserved