Beauty for Ashes

“Through my handicaps, I have found myself, my work, my God.”  -Helen Keller

Sampson failed miserably.  This hero warrior of Israel with Hercules-type strength had killed thousands of Philistine enemies, so the Philistines were looking for a way to defeat him.  This Superman’s kryptonite was lust.  Sampson was easily seduced by a Philistine prostitute, Delilah, and he trusted her with the secret of his strength, his long hair.  Delilah cut Sampson’s hair, he became an ordinary man, his eyes were plucked out, and he became a Philistine slave.  This was the epitome of a ‘fall from grace’, but God wasn’t done with Sampson yet.  Sampson’s strength returned, so when his enemies all met to party under one roof, in one last hurrah he demolished their building and destroyed everyone inside.  The obvious lesson for us is that we should be careful with whom we trust with our secrets.  However, the greater theme is that even when we mess up, God can turn our mistakes into miracles.  It doesn’t matter what we have done, or how bad we think that we are, we are still not beneath God using us and even blessing us in greater way than ever before we made the mistake.  God can give us back the years that the enemy stole, so don’t believe the lie that it’s over.  It’s not over!  If there are some of us that haven’t completely surrendered to God up till this point, let’s submit our lives to Christ now, and let God turn things around like only He can do.  

To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory (Isaiah 61:3, ESV).