Oceans in the Desert

Nothing Has Been Wasted
Kathi Pelton

Our life stories have been filled with highs and lows, gains and losses, beauty and ashes, as well as joy and sorrows. In all of the stories that have colored the seasons of our lives, God wants you to know this one thing, “Nothing has been wasted.”

He is the Redeemer! The beautiful stories that have been written upon the pages of our lives have been powerfully enhanced by His touch and the painful stories that been written upon the pages of our lives have been powerfully redeemed by His loving touch. His faithfulness remains true and steadfast through it all.

Nothing has been wasted.

This week was one of those times that I experienced powerful redemption regarding a deep loss experienced many years ago. As time has gone by I have learned to rest and wait upon God to see His beauty to come forth, even from among the most painful ashes. In time, His beauty appears in the most unlikely of places and the most unexpected of ways. Though He was not the author of our pain and loss, He is the author of the beauty that comes forth from it.

“Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11

We can not escape the reality that there are seasons of pain and sorrow but we can embrace the truth and comfort that in the midst of those times we have been given hope that beauty will be restored. There is great comfort in knowing that in the midst of sorrows we are invited to enter into the beautiful chamber of His love to be refreshed and renewed in hope for tomorrow.

In times when this world shouts a resounding message of hopelessness through adverse circumstances, hatred and divisions, we know that Jesus can take what was meant for evil and turn it for good. Such as when He raised Lazarus from the dead (when every hope had gone into the grave with him) or when Jesus feed 5000 hungry people with only enough food for one small boy. We are seeing sickness, death, lack and need all around us and I believe we will once again see His power displayed in hopeless and impossible situations. He will resurrect, feed, fill and multiply until there are twelve baskets more than we began with. All of your losses, when placed in the faithful care of Jesus, are redeemed, restored and always multiplied beyond expectation.

As most of my readers know, our family has experienced natural fires and storms in years past. We’ve lost homes and lived through terrifying firestorms and a tornado that took many lives. Our past losses both prove and testify of the greatness of His restoration and ability to heal. Nothing has been wasted. Our past losses and pain can now be a present comfort to those who can’t see past the ashes that they are currently facing. Our loaf and fish, offered to the Lord, will be multiplied to feed and give hope to many. As you offer what you have in our hand to Jesus (even your stories and testimonies), He uses it to feed many. We have seen beauty come forth in our own journey and we can take the beautiful redemption of our story and plant those seeds of hope in many lives today.

Your story has nothing wasted when planted in the soil of our Redeemer. The testimony of Jesus in your life carries the spirit of prophesy to another’s life. Your overcoming will call forth their overcoming.

“To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” Isaiah 61:3

It will all be beautiful in time! Whatever your story is…offer it to Him. Offer the ashes, offer the beauty, offer the mourning, offer the joy, offer the despair and offer the praise. What is offered to the Lord will be resurrected and multiplied more than you can ever imagine. Offer Him your story…He will use every part of it and nothing will be wasted. Let your life be poured out as an offering of worship— both the good and the hard— then watch what he does!

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We so appreciate the support and prayers during this time. “Nothing is wasted!”