God's Story Never Ends With 'ashes.'" Series

"Of one thing I am perfectly sure: God's story never ends with 'ashes.'"

This powerful quote by Elisabeth Elliot reminds us that no matter what challenges or hardships we face, God's plan for our lives is always bigger and better than we can imagine.

Elisabeth Elliot, a missionary and author, knew firsthand about suffering and loss. She experienced the tragic death of her husband, Jim, at the hands of the Waorani people in Ecuador, to whom she was trying to reach with the gospel. Despite this devastating loss, Elliot continued to trust in God's goodness and sovereignty.

Finding Hope in Ashes

When we face difficult circumstances, it's easy to feel like our lives are ending in ashes. But Elliot's quote encourages us to look beyond our current situation and trust that God is working everything out for our good. As she wrote in her book "Made for the Journey," "Of one thing I am perfectly sure: God's story never ends with 'ashes'".

God's Story is One of Redemption

The Bible reminds us that God is a God of redemption. In Romans 8:28, we're told that "in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." This verse doesn't promise that everything will be easy or that we'll always understand what's happening. But it does assure us that God is sovereign and that He's working everything out for our good.

Trusting in God's Goodness

So how can we trust God's goodness in the midst of uncertainty?

Here are a few key takeaways:

1. God's presence is our refuge:

Even in the darkest times, God's presence is our rock, our shelter, and our hope.

2. God's plan is bigger than ours:

We may not understand why certain things are happening, but we can trust that God's plan is always better than ours.

3. God's story never ends with ashes:

No matter what we're facing, we can be sure that God's story for our lives will ultimately end in triumph, not tragedy.

As Elisabeth Elliot so eloquently put it, "Whatever is in the cup that God is offering to me, whether it be pain and sorrow and suffering and grief along with the many more joys, I'm willing to take because I trust Him."

May we too learn to trust God's goodness and sovereignty, even when we can't see the end of the story.