Ephesians 2:10

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them

Isaiah 61:7

Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.

Psalms 51:12

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

I went to see Les Miserables.  Every line that was sung and scene portrayed was a message of disparity, grace, and redemption. I wept through the movie. In reading the book the introduction shared that Victor Hugo took almost 20 years to write the novel and painstakingly researched to create a  historically accurate novel.  It was a masterpiece he would set aside and come back to.  I think that is one of the many reasons it speaks to the heart, because it was created through many seasons of the author’s life.

There were so many scenes that grabbed my soul and caused it to swell inside and ache.  One scene…..how do I start?

There was a girl who dreamed of love and beauty like every other girl she played with.  The desire to be thought beautiful, acceptable, convinced she was loved.  The voices and choices around her made her feel less than.  Her beauty was not like other girls.  Too tall, too fair, too different.  To hear the voices you are ugly, different, a mistake was convincing in her heart; yet, on the outside you would only see a school girl going about life.  He came. He saw a vulnerable girl.  He could see the inside of her and knew that in that vulnerability, she could be used for pleasure.  His pleasure.  She never felt this way before and finally found acceptance in the arms of someone who thought her beautiful. The pain was worth the love.

His voice was sweet and luring.  His undying allegiance convincing.  She dreamed that his love would never die, and that God would be forgiving. He took her childhood in his stride.  Then it all went wrong. All her childhood dreams turned to shame.

When he left the world became a game, and she realized that no man would truly love her.  She played the game over and over to conquer her pain, and prove that she could not be used.  The cleverness she felt was a facade for the growing pain–the hell she was living.

God in His mercy spared her life.  He saw her through the darkest nights and relentless rebellion. Every choice that caused more pain was a time for His love to cover shame.  Jesus brought redemption long ago, He guided her through each day to understand His plan. Who is this God who truly forgives?  Who calls you beautiful and calls you His?  He spares our life, and brings us hope.  He restores our childhood and our dreams. He redeems your past and creates a future and a hope. What man and the enemy tried to destroy He rescues and not even death would destroy this hope.

We pray for those who live this pain. Who feel that life has killed their dreams. We ask for God to deliver. Restore their dreams, and help them see, the beauty that only comes from Him. Even if you stand alone, and no one believes, remember the One who created your soul and desires you to be whole…

The song from Les Miserables:  I Dreamed a Dream

I dreamed a dream…
There was a time when men were kind
When their voices were soft
And their words inviting
There was a time when love was blind
And the world was a song
And the song was exciting
There was a time
Then it all went wrong

I dreamed a dream in times gone by
When hope was high
And life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving
Then I was young and unafraid
And dreams were made and used and wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung
No wine untasted
But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hope apart
And they turn your dream to shame
He slept a summer by my side
He filled my days with endless wonder
He took my childhood in his stride
But he was gone when autumn came
And still I dream he’ll come to me
That we’ll live the years together
But there are dreams that cannot be
And there are storms we cannot weather
I had a dream my life would be
So much different from this hell I’m living
So different now from what it seemed
Now life has killed
The dream I dreamed.