Even the Ashes Bloom: Finding Beauty When You Feel Broken
Have you ever had a season in life where it felt like everything you once knew had burned to the ground?
Maybe it was a marriage that ended, a career that shifted, or a dream that slipped through your fingers. Those ashes—the remains of what once was—can feel heavy, suffocating, and permanent.
I know, because I’ve been there.
Several years ago, I faced heartbreak that left me questioning not only my future, but also my worth. The picture-perfect story I thought I was writing for my life as a wife and mother was suddenly unrecognizable, overcome by grief, disappointment, and shame as I was undone by betrayal and my marriage ended in divorce.
But here’s the miracle: God is in the business of growing beauty from ashes.
Out of my most broken chapters came a new kind of wholeness—one I could never have pieced together on my own. Slowly, gently, God invited me to exchange my striving for rest, my shame for freedom, and my perfectionism for peace. And as I walked that road, I discovered something profound: even the ashes can bloom.
The Heart Behind My Book
That’s the story behind my upcoming book, Even the Ashes Bloom. It’s more than just my story—it’s an invitation for yours, too.
This book is for the woman who feels undone by betrayal, weighed down by shame, or lost in disappointment. It’s for the woman who wonders if she’ll ever feel whole again, who looks at the ashes in her life and can’t imagine anything beautiful coming from them.
Through personal stories, biblical reflections, journaling prompts, and prayers, Even the Ashes Bloom walks readers through the process of healing. Each chapter offers what I call the BLOOM framework:
Believe It – Trusting God’s truth over the enemy’s lies.
Linger – Slowing down to rest in His presence and HIs Word.
Observe – Noticing God’s presence and reflecting on how the message applies to you.
Offer – Spending time in prayer, surrendering what was never ours to carry.
Magnify – Action steps to move you forward in your journey.
This isn’t a quick fix or a “five steps to happiness” kind of book. It’s a faith-filled journey of restoration—a reminder that God is both tender with our pain and relentless in His love.
Why This Message Matters
I wrote this book because I know what it’s like to sit among the ashes, unsure if life will ever feel good again. I also know what it’s like to be surprised by blooms in the places I least expected them.
Maybe you’ve had a friendship fall apart. Maybe your children are grown and you’re wondering who you are now. Maybe you’re navigating divorce, loss, or just the ache of unfulfilled expectations. Whatever your ashes look like, I want you to know this: you’re not alone, and your story is not over. Our deepest pain can become the richest soil for growth.
One of my favorite promises in Scripture comes from Isaiah 61:3, where God declares that He will “bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair” (NIV). Those aren’t just pretty words. They’re a blueprint for how God redeems broken stories.
A Personal Invitation
When you pick up Even the Ashes Bloom, my hope is that it feels like coffee with a friend. I don’t pretend to have all the answers. I’m not writing from the mountaintop, but from the middle of the messy process of healing and hope.
If you’ve ever longed for peace in the middle of chaos, or wondered if your heart could ever feel whole again, this book is for you.
Because the truth is, God isn’t waiting until you’ve got it all together to bring restoration. He’s already at work in the ashes, planting seeds of hope that will bloom in His perfect time.
It’s Not the End of the Story
Your story isn’t over. Even when the ground feels scorched, God is planting something new. Even when it feels like everything is lost, He is faithful to restore.
And if He can bring beauty from my ashes, He can do the same for you.
Even the Ashes Bloom releases in 2026, but the journey starts now. Will you dare to believe that your ashes aren’t the end of your story, but the soil of something beautiful?
Meet Sarah:
Sarah S. Brown is a Christian author and speaker who helps women anchor their identity in Christ and find renewed confidence through life’s hardest seasons. A former teacher and freelance writer, she founded the online community for Christian women, EverBloom, contributed to Hope for the Holidays, and was named a Woman of Influence by the Nashville Business Journal. Her upcoming book, Even the Ashes Bloom, invites readers on a faith-filled journey from brokenness to spiritual renewal. Sarah lives in Tennessee with her husband and two sons.