to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to 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 – Isaiah 6:2, 3, NIV
When I read this scripture verse, I think of this other verse, “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
In the meantime, God will continue to comfort us when we mourn, replace the ashes on our heads with a beautiful head-dress and clothe us with a garment of praise in place of the dark, heaviness of grief, sorrow, troubles which weigh us down.
I was once very overcome with grief but I felt impressed to praise God even though I didn’t feel like it. Instead of weeping, I began to sing and the heaviness which weighed on my heart lifted. I was no longer focused on my grief but on God. That day, I learned that is praise is the best substitute for despair.
Notes to Women 