Beauty for Ashes – my testimony
Milagros De Parra
Liberty University Online

My life before I came to Christ was apparently going well: I had possessions, status, a family, a great job, friends; it was “perfect”. We could afford throwing parties and inviting friends to have fun at least twice a month. Even though I had many things, this life was empty and I was unhappy. My daughters were the reason I kept going. I was a victim of domestic violence for many years so I learned to focus mostly on my job and let life pass by. Adultery broke my marriage and led me to deep depression, followed by alcohol and cigarette use. One day I had it all and the next, it was all gone. After going through a painful divorce, I was left with no friends or hope. I felt helpless and alone for many years.
I grew up as an active catholic who attended church regularly, so I knew of Jesus but I didn’t know Him. When life got “perfect” I lost my interest in church and did not attend anymore. I thought of God when I was lonely, but I never thought He could help me. The medications were not working anymore and in my search for ways to fix my life, I started consulting tarot cards, psychics, listening to subliminal messages for happiness, and even hypnotherapy but nothing helped.
A friend invited me to her Christian church and after several invitations I decided to take her up on the offer. I will always remember that day. The sermon was about leaving all your problems and pain at the Altar, and about how God could give you a new life: To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified ( Isaiah 61:3)
The next time I went to church was for the New Year’s service and my daughters came with me. The preacher spoke about serving a God that is alive, raised from the dead, and not a Jesus that is still crucified. That was my