"Beauty for Ashes" No. 8 - Strength Rising
18 x 24 inches / 20 x 30 inch framed
Mixed Media on paper; watercolour, charcoal and gold leaf
“Strength rising from ground that once knew struggle.”
Part of my Beauty for Ashes collection, Strength Rising is an original mixed media artwork inspired by the promise of Isaiah 61:3—that God exchanges ashes for beauty and gives renewed strength to those who have walked through seasons of hardship.
True strength is not the absence of struggle but what God forms within us because of it. Like flowers that flourish in difficult places, His Spirit enables us to stand firm, sending roots deep into His faithfulness. What once felt like a place of weakness becomes the very ground where perseverance, courage, and steadfast hope begin to grow.
Created with watercolor, charcoal, and genuine gold leaf, each material carries intentional symbolism. The charcoal represents ashes, refining, and seasons of testing. The watercolor reflects surrender, dependence, and the gentle work of the Holy Spirit. The gold leaf speaks of redemption, reminding us that God transforms our greatest trials into testimonies of His faithfulness.
The unfinished circle of gold surrounding the flowers symbolizes God’s eternal presence and His ongoing work of restoration. His strength does not simply help us endure difficult seasons—it enables us to rise above them, rooted in His grace and sustained by His power.
Strength Rising is the eighth painting in the Beauty for Ashes series, where each flower reflects a unique expression of God’s redeeming work. Though every journey is different, they all proclaim the same enduring truth: nothing surrendered to Christ is ever wasted. He faithfully transforms our deepest struggles into places where His strength is revealed.
May this artwork remind you that your greatest trials do not define you—they prepare you. As you remain rooted in Christ, He gives strength for today, courage for tomorrow, and the assurance that His power is made perfect in weakness.
“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)
- NOTE: "Beauty for Ashes" collection is being sold as ORIGINAL ART only. If you would like to commission a specific flower, please request here.
Original artwork, watercolour, charcoal & gold leaf on paper. Adding a beautiful custom frame will give your new painting added elegance.
