Turning Your Ashes into Beauty... Being a Woman of Encouragement

by Debra Ann Elliott
(Birmingham, AL, USA)

Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. II Corinthians 1:4 NIV

God has a grand purpose for you. He turned your "ashes" into beauty. One of your "beauty's" from ashes is encouragement to others.

After an abortion you went through trials and tribulations and survived several journeys for a reason. You have been comforted in all your troubles and He wants you to comfort others who need encouragement through their "fires".

Two wonderful bible verses that will help you encourage other women is Job 16:5 and I Thessalonians 4:18. Both verses speak of encouragement through your words.

But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief. Job 16:5 NIV

Therefore encourage one another with these words. I Thessalonians 4:18 NIV

You may not know what to say to a woman who is hurting and anguished, but you have to remember three things:

You have been there...
You feel her pain...
You understand...

Encouragement demands action.

You have already been there. You know what it feels like to experience a plethora of "out of control" emotions. Be sincere in your words. Sincerity is encouragement in action.

You have already felt pain. You have suffered and grieved through time. Be sensitive in your words. Sensitivity is encouragement in action.

You understand what other women are going through, because you have been in their shoes. You have felt despair and heartache. Be sypathetic in your words. Sympathy is encouragement in action.

The actions of sincerity, sensitivity, and sympathy can rescue a distraught woman from the end of her rope.

Let your "beauty" shine through the ashes. Be a great encourager.

In my next column I will delve deeper into how you can become a woman of compassion. I will show you how God took me from ashes into the beauty of compassion.

I want to thank you for continuing to post your comments and your favorite bible verses. I hope this new series will be a blessing to your life and bring you from the "ashes into beauty".

Be blessed,
Debra

© Debra Ann Elliott 2009