B- Beauty will Rise- Steven Curtis Chapman

This song is on Steven Curtis Chapman’s album, Beauty will Rise, which has been a source of comfort to me in times of suffering. The album was written in response to his adopted daughter, Maria, being killed in a tragic accident.

The chorus holds special meaning to me:

“Out of these ashes, beauty will rise And we will dance among the ruins We will see it with our own eyes Out of these ashes, beauty will rise For we know, joy is coming in the morning”

I have seen time and time again throughout my life, the truth of this song coming true.

I remember when I lost my passport enroute to Kenya with Mountain Christian Church. I cried when I had to return home-which is a lot to say-for a man who didn’t cry when his grandmother died.

Then God opened a opportunity to serve in Kenya for six months with Christian Missionary Fellowship International. It was one of the most rewarding times of my life.

Beauty rose out of my pain and grief to be on mission with Jesus in a totally new way.

However, the most profound way, I saw the truth of this song coming true was meeting my wife Jennifer.

Prior to meeting her, I was talking to a girl I had dreams of possibly marrying and having kids with her. I was in love with her joy and enthusiasm for Jesus and life. Then she told me she didn’t want to date me and our blooming friendship/ relationship ended.

Prior to the start of this friendship, I started going on Eharmony , an online dating service. I stopped using it during the courting of this girl, but kept my profile open. Then after all things went south, I decided to give Eharmony one last shot.

I doubted whether I was even going to meet a wife on Eharmony. I thought, it was the stuff of dreams. Then my wildest dreams came true. I fell in love with this girl, whose heart and life were a true reflection of Jesus.

Out of my pain, beauty rose.

I danced and have continued to dance, among the ruins as joy has come in the morning.

I know some of you are in your own journey of suffering. You wonder if beauty will rise out of your broken dreams and hopes. But rest assured, beauty will rise, whether on earth and/or heaven. You will see joy in the morning again, friends.

If you aren’t in it now, you know the pain of suffering throughout your life. Be a source of comfort and encouragement to those you know going through suffering. Be a friend to them, remind them beauty will rise, through your words and actions. Be most of all, point them to Jesus, who is the true source of beauty