BeautyForAshes🗽🌄

🌑✨ “SMILING IN A DARK SEASON” — A BeautyforAshes Note to Nigeria

There’s a strange contradiction happening in Nigeria right now.
A kind of heartbreak that hangs in the air even when the sky is bright.
People laugh… but their eyes tell another story.
Pictures look happy… but timelines bleed quietly.
And somewhere between the news headlines and the silence in our rooms,
a nation is grieving.

Christians are being taken…
Homes emptied…
Families shattered…
Dreams interrupted by the sound of fear.
There are names we will never forget, and stories we wish we never heard.

And yet — somehow — we are still standing.
Still praying.
Still waking up.
Still trying to find pieces of normal even when nothing feels normal.

That’s why a smile — any smile — in times like this
is not denial.
It is survival.
It is our way of saying,
“Darkness will not own us.”
It is the softest rebellion against fear.

Because hope is not always loud.
Sometimes it looks like a girl smiling in a picture
while carrying the weight of a country in her chest.
Sometimes it looks like choosing to breathe
on days when grief is sitting quietly beside your spirit.
Sometimes it looks like worship whispered under your breath
because the world feels like a battlefield.

Nigeria is hurting.
We are hurting.
But we are not defeated.

For every life taken,
may God raise comfort.
For every family mourning,
may God wrap peace around them like a shield.
For every believer living in fear,
may courage rise again.
For every corner stained with blood,
may mercy speak louder than death.

And as you see this picture —
this smile —
let it remind you of one thing:

Light still exists here.
Not because the country is okay,
but because God is still with us.
And where He is, hope refuses to die.

🕊️🖤
BeautyforAshes
— “Finding light, even in a bleeding nation.”

Kindly say a short prayer for Nigeria🤍

Bring Honey Out of the Rock for Me…

There are seasons where even the strong lose their words.
Where faith feels like lifting stones with bare hands, and prayers sound more like sighs than songs.

You look around and the path that once bloomed now bleeds dust.
The oil feels dry,
the heart feels tired,
and heaven… feels silent.

But somewhere in that silence,
God is still speaking.
Not in thunder. Not in visions.
But through the very rock that resists you.

Because sometimes, the same rock that bruises you is the one carrying your honey.
The same pain that threatened to break you is holding your sweetness hostage.

And He whispers —
“I will bring honey out of the rock for you.”
(Psalm 81:16)

Because when God says “out of the rock,”
He’s not just talking about sweetness —
He’s talking about strength that tastes like rest, hope that drips slowly, joy that takes its time returning.

You see, the rock doesn’t change; you do.
The weight of the wait reshapes you.
THE WILDERNESS TRAINS YOUR HEARING.
The dry place becomes the altar where you remember that manna doesn’t fall from crowds, it falls from clouds.

It’s not just about survival anymore.
It’s about seeing God in what didn’t move.
Finding beauty where the ashes still lie warm.
And realizing that sometimes, miracles don’t always show up as open doors —
sometimes they come as closed ones that teach you how to kneel.

Maybe this is that season.
The one where you don’t even need answers, just presence.
The one where you stop begging the rock to move and start asking it to yield honey.

And maybe that’s the miracle after all.
Not that the rock disappeared, but that it became a well.

Get Away With Me; He said…

There’s a line of Scripture that keeps haunting me lately, not like a command but like a love note whispered in the dark:

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest.” — Matthew 11:28 (MSG)

And honestly? I am tired. Maybe you are too. Not the kind of tired that a weekend nap fixes, but the kind that sinks into your bones, the kind that makes you smile in public and ache in private. That tired.

We live in a world that demands everything from us; show up strong, stay productive, smile even when you’re breaking. And so we keep running. Running to keep up. Running to prove ourselves. Running so no one sees the cracks. But somewhere in the middle of all that running, our souls start whispering: “I can’t do this anymore.”

That’s where His words hit me different: “Get away with Me.”

It sounds like the kind of love you don’t resist. The kind that makes you drop your defenses, pack up your pride, and run away, not because you’re weak, but because you’ve finally found Someone safe enough to collapse into.

“Get away with Me.”

And I think about how real life looks when we don’t. We stay clenched. We scroll late into the night looking for something to numb us. We show up at work exhausted, rehearsing our anxieties on loop. We pour out of an empty cup, hoping nobody notices it’s dry. And if we’re honest, sometimes even our prayers feel heavy, like we’re trying to get the formula right so maybe God will hear us.

But He’s not asking for performance. He’s not asking for perfection. He’s not even asking for answers. He’s just saying: “Get away with Me. Let Me show you how to take a real rest.”

Real rest isn’t just sleep. It’s unclenching your fists and letting Him hold what you can’t fix.
It’s realizing you don’t have to carry the weight of everyone’s expectations.
It’s letting go of the timing you demanded and trusting His timing won’t fail you.
It’s finally breathing again, not because life is easy, but because you’re no longer holding it alone.

And maybe, just maybe, this is what September is about: not striving harder, not proving stronger, not running faster. But slowing down enough to hear Him say, “Come away. I’m not asking you to escape life. I’m asking you to recover your life — in Me.”

So, beloved, let this month be holy ground. Take off the armor, the exhaustion, the “I’m fine.” Walk barefoot into His arms. Rest is not weakness. Rest is worship. Rest is recovery.

And in His arms, you are already home.

Where Broken Pieces Become Beautiful Stories…

Sometimes, life leaves us with ashes — the kind you don’t know how to hold without getting burned.
But here, in our little corner of the world, we gather those ashes and trade them for beauty.

We don’t rush the process.
We sit with you in the quiet.
We listen for the heartbeats between your words.
We hold your hands until the trembling slows.

That’s what Beautiful Ashes is about.
We’re more than a name — we’re a family.
A safe room.
A warm home where no one heals alone.
Where we cry together, laugh together, pray together, and dare to dream again.

Our WhatsApp community is our living room, a safe, faith-filled space for easy access, honest conversations, and daily encouragement. We also share life-giving content on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and our blog, so no matter where you are, you can carry a piece of this family with you.

When you join us, you’re not just signing up for updates or activities — you’re stepping into a family that believes in your growth, healing, and God-given destiny. BFA is open to anyone who longs for healing, restoration, and genuine friendship.

And now, we celebrate. 🎉
This August, Beautiful Ashes turns two years old.
Two years of stories.
Two years of hope reigniting.
Two years of people finding their voice again.

To mark this milestone, we’re stepping outside the walls of our chat and into the world! visiting secondary schools, speaking life into young hearts, sharing courage, and planting seeds of hope that will outlive us.

If your heart beats for this too, there’s room for you here.
We’re open to collaborations, partnerships, and sponsorships for this outreach, not because we can’t do it, but because we know we can do more together. And maybe, just maybe, you’re the missing piece that can make this dream bigger than we imagined.

Breathe. You’re Still Becoming.

— by The_Ezerr | BeautyforAshes

Some days, everything feels loud.

The pressure. The waiting. The memories you’re trying to forget. The fear of becoming what you fought so hard to heal from. It’s loud, not because you’re weak, but because you’re human… and healing is hard work.

But listen —
Even in the noise, God is not panicked about your life.
He’s not pacing heaven, trying to fix what you broke.
He already saw it… and still chose you.

Yes, you.

You — the one who feels like they’re always “almost okay.”
You — the one who smiles while silently praying not to fall apart in public.
You — the one who’s tired of trying, but hasn’t stopped.

You’re not behind.
You’re not too broken.
You’re not too late.
And this isn’t the end of your story.

You’re just becoming.

Sometimes, becoming looks like rising with fire.
Other times, it looks like pulling the blanket over your head, whispering, “God, hold me,” and that’s okay.

Because even when you’re not moving fast, you’re still moving.
Even when you don’t feel brave, you’re still becoming bold.
Even when your strength feels small, grace makes it enough.

So take a breath.
Cry if you need to.
Rest if you must.
But please, don’t quit.

God does His best work with ashes.
And this part?
This aching, messy, not-so-glamorous part?
It’s not proof that you’re failing…
It’s proof that you’re fighting.

So keep going, Beauty.

You’re not lost
You’re just being rebuilt.

a healing girlie list, with a touch of laughter😂😇🤭

List 10 things you know to be absolutely certain.

1. God is good… even when life feels like a hot mess express.

2. Jollof rice tastes better the next day. That’s not up for debate.

3. Healing isn’t linear — some days you’re quoting Psalms, other days you’re deep in your feelings with a worship song on repeat.

4. When Nigerian parents say “we’ll talk later,” it’s usually code for “you’re in trouble.”

5. The Holy Spirit will humble you gently… but firmly.

6. Sleep is underrated — and suddenly becomes precious the older you get.

7. A little “God, please help me” prayer at 3 a.m. is sometimes more powerful than a whole sermon.

8. That friend who texts “I just felt like checking on you” is truly sent by heaven.

9. The devil doesn’t like joy — protect yours fiercely.

10. No matter how ugly, broken, or lost you feel… you are still wildly, deeply loved by God. And that’s fact.

When the Storm Is Inside You…

I remember a girl who smiled a lot.

She laughed in group chats, shared scripture, even encouraged others.
But at night, she stared at the ceiling, wondering if her absence would be noticed.
Her storm wasn’t loud. It was silent. Internal. Emotional.

Her pain was real — but her family didn’t believe in such things.
“You’re too young to be tired.”
“You need to pray more.”
“We didn’t die, you won’t die.”
“You’re just being dramatic — are you the first to face hardship?”

Sound familiar?

For her, suicidal thoughts were not the beginning of weakness, they were the result of silence —
A silence born out of family dysfunctionality, where emotions were invalidated, and mental health was seen as weakness or rebellion.
She grew up in a home where vulnerability was mocked, not embraced.
Where depression wasn’t seen as pain, but as a “Western disease.”
Where seeking therapy was considered faithlessness.

She spoke… but no one heard.
Not really.

And maybe you relate.
Maybe your family, your church, or your friends just… don’t get it.
Maybe you’ve been silently screaming too.

> “When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.”
— Psalm 61:2

This scripture became her rescue rope.
A quiet whisper that reminded her: Even when people don’t understand, God does.

Because maybe it’s not your family.
Maybe it’s a toxic relationship.
Or spiritual burnout.
Or loneliness in the middle of a crowd.
Or constantly being the strong one for everyone else.

Whatever your storm looks like — can you relate to speaking, but not being heard?

Have you ever felt overlooked in your pain?

Say something in the comments. Even if it’s just a word.
“Seen.”
“That’s me.”
“Still here.”
Let’s break the silence, together.

You’re not weak.
You’re not too much.
You’re not alone.
You’re still breathing — that means hope is still alive.

Scripture Anchor:
> “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you…”
— Isaiah 43:2

Healing Is Not Loud — But It’s Real

Healing is not always loud.
It doesn’t always look like strength, or sound like shouting victories.
Sometimes… healing is the whisper you say to yourself when no one’s around:
“I’m still here.”
“I’m trying.”
“I’m learning to breathe again.”

Sometimes, healing is just getting out of bed.
Washing your face.
Answering that call.
Not replying that text.
Or whispering “God, please help me,” when your voice is shaking and your heart is too heavy to lift.

Healing looks like silence.
Tears in the shower.
A playlist on repeat.
A scripture that suddenly becomes more than memory — it becomes oxygen.
It looks like not being okay today, but trusting that maybe, just maybe, you’ll be okay tomorrow.

God never rushed anyone back to wholeness.
He took His time with the broken.
He sat with the woman at the well.
He lingered with the bleeding woman who touched His garment.
He stopped for the blind man who cried out louder.
He let Lazarus die, just to come back and prove that resurrection still exists — even in the darkest, stinkiest places.

> “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” — Psalm 147:3

So this is for the girl who is still healing.
The one who smiles, but aches quietly.
The one who shows up, but goes home feeling unseen.
The one who’s trying, hoping, breaking, and rebuilding all at once.

God sees you.
And He’s not rushing you.
He’s not ashamed of your slow steps.
He’s not embarrassed by your mess.
He’s not tired of your tears.
He’s in it with you — all the way through.

Let your healing be holy.
Let it be sacred.
Let it be quiet if it needs to be.
Let it be loud with laughter one day and trembling the next.
Let it be yours.

And when it’s hard to see progress, just remember:
You are still God’s beauty in the making.
You’re still the “Beauty for Ashes” He promised.
You are proof that broken doesn’t mean unworthy — it just means in process.

> “To give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness…” — Isaiah 61:3

You’re not behind.
You’re not forgotten.
You’re just healing — and that’s a miracle in motion.

More than 1.

What is your favorite genre of music?

I’m drawn to blues because it holds both the ache and the healing in the same breath.
It’s raw. Unfiltered. Deep.
It lets me sit with my emotions and still feel held — like the music knows my silence and wraps itself around it.

I love afrobeat because it carries the pulse of my roots — the rhythm of resilience, joy, and bold defiance.
It’s where my body moves even when my heart is tired.
The drums speak, the bass commands, and I remember who I am — strong, grounded, African… alive.

Then there’s afro gospel — the perfect marriage of my spirit and my sound.
It’s God in my language.
It’s worship that feels like home.
It reminds me that holiness and heritage can dance together — and that I can be fully me, both soft and powerful, in God’s presence.

So no — my favorite genre isn’t just one.
It’s a mood. A memory. A prayer.
A story of survival, a celebration of origin, and a whisper of heaven — all woven into melody.

That’s the music that moves me.
That’s the music that mirrors me.
And that’s the music I’ll always return to.

(Please subscribe to my blog and I’ll do same. Like, and drop your thoughts)

GOD IS

He met me when I had nothing.
Loved me when I didn’t care.
Loved me even more when I wandered away — sometimes out of ignorance that HE IS, other times from pain, pressure, and low self-esteem… forgetting that He gave me a seat right by the Father.

I tend to overthink everything.
And when I finally pause to count my blessings, I realize — I’ve been doing it all wrong, all along.

If I had truly counted earlier, I would’ve known that He maketh rich and adds no sorrow to it.
So why was I worried then?
Why did I overthink?
How did I sink into depression over challenges, forgetting that HE IS?

HE IS… a High Priest that understands exactly what I feel.

> “For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning.”
— Hebrews 4:15 (AMPC)

Then I retrace my steps, and begin to count again — this time with clarity — I realize:
In gratitude, I receive more.
In surrender, I am made perfect.
A testament that I’m being taken care of.

He says, “I will prepare a table before you in the presence of your enemies.”
That gave me a deep understanding.

It’s a table, because He knows they’ll be many enough to gather around it.
He’s letting me know that it’s inevitable — they will gather.
But He also promised: “They will surely gather… but not by Me… and they shall fall for your sake.” Because I dwell in the secret place.

He didn’t say the enemy won’t try to push me off the cliff.
He said:
“I will give My angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways… they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.”

All these promises… and yet the enemy still tries to cloud my mind with anxiety, magnifying the trouble before me.
But if only I don’t forget.
If only you don’t forget.

Remember:
GOD IS.

And in this season, there’s a promise He has left for you.
That promise, is your weapon.
Find it. Hold it. Stand on it.
Because you’re not just surviving — you’re seated. You’re provided for. And He’s still writing your story