One humid morning, I laced up my running shoes and hit my favorite path. I was training for a marathon and needed to log ten miles that day. Just before reaching my turnaround point, I noticed something odd—dozens of turkey buzzards perched in the trees above me. They were ugly and creepy looking.
I was feeling a little punchy from the heat and humidity, so I shouted one of my favorite verses:
“The king is enthralled with your beauty; honor him, for he is your Lord.” (Psalm 45:11)
It was half a joke, half a declaration.
I kept running, made the turn, and headed home. But as I passed under those same trees again, I looked up—and what I saw stopped me in my tracks.
All those once-repulsive buzzards stood with wings stretched wide and faces turned heavenward. I gasped. Joy rushed in. I could barely get the words out between the sobs, “The king is enthralled with your beauty.”
And then I heard the Lord speak clearly to my heart, “If I can turn these ugly creatures into something beautiful, I can take every moment of your childhood and turn it into something beautiful.”
I bent over, sobbing in the middle of the trail. “Yes, Lord. Please.”
I don’t remember if I ran the rest of the way home or floated. I just know I couldn’t wait to tell my family what God had just spoken to me. And true to His Word, He has taken the pain of my past and turned my past into beauty.
Not all at once. Not without grief and pain.
And friend, I believe Jesus wants to do the same for you.
What part of your past feels ugly?
Which memories still make you cringe or stir up shame?
For many years, I tried to heal those moments on my own—through distraction, perfectionism, and even performance. But nothing brought true healing until I encountered Jesus. When I finally invited Him into those broken places, healing began in my life.
Are you ready to invite him in? You don’t have to have the perfect words. You can start with something like this:
God, I give you access to every moment in my childhood that still brings pain when I remember it—especially the ones where I believed you weren’t there with me. Come into those memories. Heal what was broken. Show me where you were. Turn what feels ugly into something beautiful.
Reflection Question:
What’s one memory you need to invite Jesus into today?
Can you picture Jesus with you in one of those hard memories? What do you think he would say or do?
What would it look like for beauty to come from that place of brokenness?
Timeless Truths to Encourage:
He has made everything beautiful in its time. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. (Isaiah 61:3)
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18)
