Songs of the Soul | Beautiful Things

Shared by Beth Marshall

Revelation 21:4-5: And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”

From the songwriter: “This song is an expression of hope that God will make beautiful things out of the dust in our lives, and God will somehow use us, use our obedience and love, our feeble human effort, and build Himself a kingdom.  I see that God is using suffering to bring us closer to Him.”  – Michael Gungor

I first heard this song as I was drowning in the aftermath of divorce.  Who was I anymore?  Where was God?  Was this awful pain going to last forever?  I prayed through this pain, this loss, and the so many levels of grief it brought with it.  I listened, I cried, and I sang.  And this song became my affirmation.  A rediscovery of who I was and who I was created to be.

As time passed, the feelings of doubt and inadequacy began to leave me, replaced with hope.  There was a way to find my “colors” again, to bring light to the beauty awaiting inside in spite of the pain and suffering.  To be made new!  Because, God makes beautiful things!  He does not leave us alone.  He does not abandon us.  God is present even in our difficulties.  I believed this; and I thought, if I can lift my eyes up to God, I can have the hope that He has promised in His Word.  He is the source of strength and hope.  For if things can not be made new, there would only be death and darkness.  And it is not living if we stay spinning in death and darkness.  “Out of chaos life is being found, in You.”

“You make me new, You are making me new!”  This is repeated over and over.  And the newness feels good.  And it gives HOPE!  Believe that this “making new” can be for you too!  My grief was replaced by contentment, satisfaction, joy, hard work and ultimately new love.  There are still pangs, and so I remember, “You make beautiful things, You make beautiful things out of the dust.  You make beautiful things, You make beautiful things out of us.”

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This post is part of our Lenten devotional series “Songs of the Soul” – learn more at gslcwi.com/lent