“To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”
ISAIAH 61:3
This scripture is for those who are mourning in Zion. It is directed to children of God who are hurting because they have lost something or someone. To the righteous whose hearts are heavy or heartbroken, and they cannot seem to hold back their tears. To the heavy heart that may not understand why they are going through loss and pain that seems too much to bear.
God is saying, I understand the pain that you are going through, and I have made a way for you to bear this pain. I want to exchange the pain that you are feeling, so I am giving you beauty for your ashes, the oil of joy for your mourning, and a garment of praise for your heaviness.
This month marks five years since I buried my sister (She passed in February but was buried in March). It was five years ago that I woke up one early morning and she was lying lifeless in her room. I felt that my life was over and that I would never come out of that pain. I sincerely felt that God had hurt me. It was a pain that I did not know how to process or handle.
I battled with depression and anxiety for a very long time, and I almost ruined my life. But God took all of that away and showed me that He is a comforter. The enemy tried to use the pain and anger, and it turned into a spirit of heaviness, but the Lord turned it around. And He will do the same for you. He will exchange them.
Confession
I lay every pain, heaviness, grief, anger, ashes, and mourning at the feet of Jesus today. I exchange them for His joy, praise, and the oil of gladness. The garment of sorrow that I have worn is taken away, and I put upon myself a garment of praise right now in the name of Jesus. Amen.
“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.” —PSALM 30:11–12
