← All devotionals
August · Week 2 · August 8 – 14Joy

Beauty for Ashes

God turns mourning into dancing and gives beauty for ashes — no season is too broken for His joy to break through.

Save · Download
Old Testament

Loading scripture…

Isaiah 61:3 · ESV

New Testament

Loading scripture…

1 Peter 1:8 · ESV

Monday

Isaiah 61:3; 1 Peter 1:8

God turns mourning into dancing and gives beauty for ashes. No season is too broken for His joy to break through.

This Week's Practice

This week identify one area of your life that still feels like ashes — and pray over it daily with these words — "Lord, I trust You to bring beauty here." That is faith. That is joy.

Wednesday

Joy that comes from God does not depend on circumstances being fixed. It is a deep gladness that rises even in the waiting.

A Question to Sit With

Is there an area of your life where God is asking you to trust Him for beauty before you can see it — and what is making that hard this week?

Friday

Prayer

Father, where I am still waiting for the dancing — help me trust You in the mourning. Let joy unspeakable rise in me this weekend even before the breakthrough comes. Amen.

Weekend Nudge

This weekend — think of someone who is in a season of ashes. Don't approach them. Lift them up. Pray for them by name and ask God to bring beauty into their situation. That intercession is an act of joy.

Journal
  1. Where did you see God bring beauty out of something broken this week?
  2. Was there a moment where joy surprised you in an unexpected place?
  3. As you head into the weekend what is one area where you will choose to trust God for beauty before you can see it?