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Beauty from ashes. That’s what He does.

April 21, 2014 By Emily McClements
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Beauty from ashes. That's what He does. A story about grief, healing, and Jesus at LiveRenewed.com

I have to share this story with you because it’s such an important part of who I am, and I cannot stop talking here about what Jesus has done in my heart and my life. (Acts 4:20 – One of my Dad’s favorite verses.)

Today is the second anniversary of my dad’s passing from this world to his eternal home in Heaven. It still hurts every day. The experience of grief has been suffocating and probably the most painful and difficult thing I have ever walked through. 

But I am walking through it – healing a little more every day. And only by the Grace of Jesus and His work in my life.

One year ago, I was stuck in a painful cycle of grief and despair. I was in a deep, dark and painful place. I could not see a light at the end of the tunnel. My world was turned upside down and my faith had been shattered into a million pieces.

But I picked up one of those tiny shreds of faith and I asked Jesus to heal me. And He reached right down into that pit I was in and He pulled me out. 

And He brought me back to Him, and called me again to this amazing journey of following Him. He is so faithful. I couldn’t walk on my own at first, so He carried me. And then he walked beside me and supported me as I walked on shaky legs. And now He runs with me and is leading me on a wild adventure and I don’t even know where I’m going.

But it doesn’t really matter where we’re going. Because I’m with Him, and He’s with me. I’m just pursuing Jesus, and I’ve found Him to be worth it all.

It’s hard to describe the freedom I have found in pursuing Jesus, and it’s hard to portray in words the incredible difference this has made in my life. I have been a Christian since I was a child, but I am experiencing true freedom in Christ for the first time in my life and it is intoxicating and I can’t get enough. 

I really, seriously hate pat answers and Christian cliches (you hear them way too much when you have a tragedy strike your family) so I really don’t want this to be another one of those. I just want you to know, whether you know me in real life and see me at church or the grocery store or the soccer field, or whether you only know me on the screen and read my words here (thank you, by the way, I am truly honored that you do), that Jesus pulled me out of depths of grief and despair and has renewed my life and is creating something beautiful out of it.

Beauty for ashes. New life from death. 

That’s what He does.

He can do it for you too.

And I am forever grateful that He does.

5 CommentsFiled Under: Renew Your Life, Thoughts on Faith Tagged With: encouragement, faith, family, grief, personal stories

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Comments

  1. [email protected] says

    April 21, 2014 at 2:53 pm

    Absolutely beautiful. I love this, and I love you so much. xo.

    Reply
  2. Stacy @ A Delightful Home says

    April 21, 2014 at 3:15 pm

    Much love and hugs to you, Emily.

    Your faith and trust in God is inspiring.

    Reply
  3. Lyndsey says

    April 22, 2014 at 9:59 pm

    Thank you so much for sharing this. We lost our daughter just over 6 weeks ago and it’s been a faith struggle. It’s nice to know that even when we can’t feel it, the Lord is still carrying us and that there is light at the end of the tunnel. I’m so sorry for the loss of your father as well. It is such a tough place to be in.

    Reply
  4. Cassi says

    May 30, 2014 at 9:28 am

    I completely understand your comment here about being Christian since childhood but now truly feeling the freedom. Prayers going out to you for your loss those years have pasted I know the pain can still be just as present at times

    Reply
    • Emily McClements says

      May 30, 2014 at 9:57 am

      Thank you Cassi!

      Reply

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