Sometimes we feel as frail as the dust from whence we came.  The hurts and heartaches of this world drive us to our knees and, for a moment, the dirt of the earth is all we are able to recall.  We make ourselves at home in the ashes and everything seems suddenly fragile.

Like Paul, we have those days where there seems to be no rest for body or spirit.

…Our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn— fighting without and fear within. – 2 Corinthians 7:5

Morning brings exhaustion and evening brings affliction.  There is fighting and fear and it seems all we have is the dusty ground beneath us.

Then, there are two little words that change everything…

But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us… – 2 Corinthians 7:6

But God.  And, suddenly, we are more than a people of the dust.  We are a people who can rise up from the ashes and dance in the dust.  No matter the trial or tragedy, in the midst of our brokenness, we can say, “But God.”  

And we are reminded that, though it is dust from which we came, we also carry the God breath inside of us.  It is true – the world would have us broken.  The world would have us forever aware of our fragility and fearful of ever rising again.  But God…He desires much more for us.

God calls to us through our pain and bids us rise.

Let those who dwell in the dust 
    wake up and shout for joy. – Isaiah 26:19

We are more than dirt of the earth.  We are the very breath and heart of God.  He redeems our pain.  He restores more than was ever taken.

And He enables us to rise, shout for joy and dance once again.