“To grant to those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified” – Isaiah 61:3
This past Friday night was spent huddled over twenty different faces as I spread a mixture of honey and coffee grounds onto their beautiful faces. I carefully mixed the “all natural” facial exfoliant and lovingly applied it to each woman as she took her seat in front of me.
All of this was only a small portion of an event the local church put on for women in the area. My team and one other all-female team banded together to throw this special event in the hopes that these women would know how beautiful they are in the eyes of the Lord! Some of my teammates painted nails, others offered massage, and some braided hair. All the while repeating the same few phrases we all learned in Spanish.
“You are beautiful in the eyes of God! You are loved!” The women in attendance heard the word of God preached and sang along for worship.
Halfway through the night when my back started to ache and I craved a chance to sit and rest, I took a mental tour of what my life might look like if it had not been rededicated to Christ. Spoiler alert for all that believe I’ve lived a perfect life thus far: I have definitely not.
Based on the trajectory of my life circa 2 years ago, this is what I most likely would have been using my Friday night on. This time two years ago I planned on attending school for esthetics (Skincare). So I’d be certified in that. Probably working for the weekend, and I don’t mean so that I could attend church. This time two years ago I enjoyed partying, codependency on a boy, and bashing other women behind their backs. When I picture what my life might look like now if the Lord hadn’t intervened, I see myself in that same relationship with the same habits and the same attitude. My weekend a blur, my heart sad and hardened, and my mind taken up with the things of the flesh.
By the grace of God, my life was changed. He shattered the desires of my physical self and broke my heart for those without the privilege I was born into. He ended the relationship, tore any opportunity I had to party away and ripped away the things of the flesh. It hurt, it was gruesome and it left me permanently altered. All I can say now is halle-freaking-lujah!
This past Friday evening was a reminder of just how different a life can become when it is placed into the hands of Jesus. The same hands that knew you in your mother’s womb. Because he has promised good to those inside of his will, my weekends are full of rejoicing! In one Friday night, I experienced all of the following.
Organizing VBS for the local children. Laughing till I can’t breathe with my fellow women.
Dancing during worship.
Applying homemade face masks to women in need of the perfect Savior.
That same perfect Savior who loved me enough to redeem my Friday nights.
