This theme unfolds all around us.
God bringing beauty from pain.
God breathing life into that which feels dead.
It’s a running theme in my debut novel, Wildflowers from Winter.
It’s a running theme in adoption.
Every single one is born out of pain. Out of sadness.
It starts with frightened pregnant teenagers who don’t want to be mothers. It starts with houses steeped in addiction and abuse and neglect. It starts with countries afflicted by war and poverty and AIDS. It starts with parents who die and governments that devalue life.
Orphans exist because our brokenness is real and pervasive.
Yet God uses what is broken to reveal His glory, showcase His mercy, bring about healing, pour out His blessings, knit together families, and draw hearts closer to Him.
Beauty from pain.
Life from death.
It’s a truth that resonates deep in my soul.
Nothing is too broken, too tattered, too lifeless, too painful for the Master Craftsman.
Not me.
Not you.
Not any choice we have made.
Or any circumstance we find ourselves in.
He can use it all to sculpt that which is beautiful and that which is breathtaking.
All we have to do is let Him.
Let’s Talk: Tell me about a “beauty from pain” story in your life or in the life of someone you know.
In case you missed it, Southern Writers Magazine had me as a guest on their blog yesterday. I wrote about Love Delivered. Come say hi if you get the chance!
These stories have touched my heart in such a big way. I’m amazed by two things:
– your faith
– God’s faithfulness
Thank you for sharing. I’ve emailed several of you privately. Love you all!!
This was beautiful Katie. What a wordsmith you are! The imagery of adoption resonates well with me. I was what was known as a “hard to adopt child.” I was 7 years old. My story unfolds with the unexpected, tragic death of my mom, and then being abandoned by my dad on the day of my mom’s funeral. That day thrust me into the foster care system where I found myself alone, unwanted, unloved and abused. A year later, at the age of 7 I was finally adopted. Adoption is a beautiful picture of God’s grace … And, you’re so right … there is nothing, absolutely nothing too broken where God’s healing power can not reach.
I have to believe in beauty from pain. I need to believe it now more than ever. Perfectly timed post, Katie (and of course, beautifully written). I can’t wait to read your novel!
Amen, what a lovely post! One of my fave truths is that a seed must die first.
Out of one of the most painful seasons of my life, God birthed a ministry for other hurting women, and allowed me to write Bible studies to be used in this ministry. Over the past ten years more than a thousand women, through participation in this ministry, have experienced healing from hurts suffered in their childhood, youth and adulthood. What awesome beauty from my personal pain!
Katie! can I link to this for my next “adoption stories around the web”? working hard to spread the word about new movie RESCUED – http://bit.ly/RESCUEDadoption
kellidparker@yahoo.com
I could just use the first paragraph or so and a pic and then link to you – keeping it simple:)
If not for my struggle with secondary infertility, I never would have sought an outlet through writing. I never would have taken this path or met the incredible people of the writing community. God pushed me down a road I didn’t even know existed through something that I consider the most painful point in my life. And I am very, very grateful.
I think for me it’s watching my mom come through all that she has survived. She was an abused child of alcoholics, married into an emotionally abusive marriage, found herself a divorced mom of 4 kids ages 17-7. I am the youngest.
Yet, when you talk to her she will tell you about God’s faithfulness through it all. She made some bad decisions in her life, but I can see how the Lord has preserved her and strengthened her faith in Him.
From all my mom endured, I think the beauty that has come from it is in my son, her only grandson, who follows the Lord and is learning to trust in Him.
I know my mom loves that her grandson loves and knows Jesus!
That’s her legacy!
Over my life there has been many instances of beauty from pain. I think facing some real demons from my younger days brought forth a beauty (in myself and those around me) that I never saw before. Healing is a real beauty from pain.
The most spiritually beautiful people I’ve ever been blessed to know have experienced heart wrenching, life-altering grief and obstacles. Yet they allowed their great pain to be redeemed by an even greater God. And they let it show. And give the glory where it belongs. “Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.” Mt. 5:4
I know this topic is such a personal one, and Terri said it so well, “sometimes the beauty that comes from pain is difficult…” So thanks for sharing these personal, difficult stories, ladies. Thanks for opening up and being real.
I LOVE my blog readers!!
This post was beautiful.
I can relate to pain and the strength and beauty that come from it, if we allow God to make something beautiful–to put His hands on us and re-fashion us.
Love this post!
Thanks for starting this great conversation, Katie, and thanks to those willing to share some of their stories!
I had been witnessing to my husband’s family for years. Finally, my brother-in-law got it–understood about God’s love for him. A few years later he was killed by a deer flying through the windshield on the way to a birthday party.
His entire family accepted Jesus as their savior three days later at his funeral.
Sometimes the beauty that comes from pain is difficult but I am grateful God has his plan for each of us.
This is an interesting subject, Katie, and obviously one that is close to your heart!
I will be vague, as Wendy was, and as she said, it will come out sometime. But, yes, very real pain in much of my life. Pain I wouldn’t trade for anything because through it all our heavenly Father was 100% Faithful (the only kind of faithful He knows how to be).
We don’t understand why there must be so much suffering, but then we see the transformations that come about by hurting people calling on His Name to be saved, healed, renewed, and set into motion.
Just thinking about what I might write is bringing tears to my eyes. Yes, I come from pain. It’s my maiden name. 😉
We were slammed with it in my family of origin and then I recognized the face of pain in my adulthood. Searing pain. The cry out kind. I realize I’m being vague. It’s probably some form of protection. It’ll all come out somehow and in some way…someday. Until then, I’m glad you address it. Because we all go through it at some time or another.
Love you,
Wendy
Love what you wrote here, Wendy. It sums up my thoughts.
Katie, this is a beautiful post. God is stronger than any pain we experience and can lift us higher than we can imagine. Thanks for the reminder!
Wow, I’m talking about something similar on my blog today. God’s timing amazes me.
My mom died when I was 19. Very painful. Excruciating. But the mighty Lord brought something good from it all: my ability to trust Him, to taste His faithfulness daily, and to know, without a doubt, that He is sovereign and He is good.
my husband’s father passed away at age 54 very suddenly…it’ll be a year this march. besides throwing the family into chaos, there were all these questions with no answers. my husband turned his grief to the Lord. we both have. and God has done amazing things through this event…culminating in my husband being offered a job as an associate pastor at our church. AMAZING things. we’ve gotten closer as a couple and closer to God. it’s beautiful in a bittersweet way….because the hurt is still there. works in progress–all of us. and that’s beautiful.
The time I felt closest to God, Katie, was when I was forced to look at the ugliest Truth in my life … the deepest pain … and found God’s grace sufficient for that wound.
Before. During. And after.
The beauty wasn’t the pain.
The beauty was God’s grace and mercy and comfort easing my pain.
That’s the key: God’s grace is sufficient to get us through those hard times. When we are weak…His strength is perfected! 🙂