A Massive Pile of Junk
"To give them beauty for ashes..." (Isaiah 61:3 NKJV)
About four years ago, when we first purchased our miracle church, Refuge Ministries, it truly felt as though we were watching the hand of God move before our eyes. The deal nearly fell apart. In the final moments, it looked as though we might lose the building completely. We did not have the funds to purchase it. The deadline was closing in. Another cash offer loomed. The pressure was intense. Yet I still remember my father calmly looking at me and saying, "Steve, rest. God has this in His hands."
And He did.
At the very last moment, someone called and purchased the church for us. It was nothing short of a miracle. Funds also came in to restore the building and get us started. But when we first stepped onto the property, much of it had been neglected for a long time. The church had sat mostly empty after COVID. Things had been left untouched and forgotten.
Behind the church stood an old garage. And beside that garage was something I will never forget—a massive pile of junk. It was not just a little bit of debris but decades of it—old tires, broken blocks, paint cans, bricks, and twisted scraps... trash piled upon trash. The vines had grown so thick around the garage that you could barely even get near it. Wildlife had taken over the area. The garage door would not even open because everything had become so overgrown.
I still remember my father and I cutting away the vines together in the summer heat. We sweated. We hauled trash. We dragged old junk out, piece by piece, and threw it into a massive construction hopper sitting on the property. We cleared away years of hidden waste, years of neglect, and tons upon tons of garbage.
Turning the Junk Pile Into a Prayer Garden
While I was praying one day, the Lord quietly spoke to my heart. He said to turn that place by the garage into a prayer garden. I will never forget that—not a storage area, not another junk pile—a garden. (Photo via Pexels)
With the help of my dear brother in Christ, Melvin Harris, who has faithfully worked beside us since the beginning, we slowly transformed that forgotten corner of the property. We built a fence around it. We laid fresh mulch. We planted flowers. We placed a hand-made wooden bench there. And hanging beside the garden is a beautiful picture of the Bride of Christ.
There is also a plaque in memory of Wade Taylor, my spiritual father and mentor for many years. We wanted that little garden to honor his memory and the beautiful presence of the Lord he carried. Over time, the prayer garden became peaceful, still, sacred, and a resting place.
The Garden: A Sign of God's Power and Restoration
People would sit quietly in the garden with the Lord, weeping in His sacred presence. And recently, after some difficult seasons where certain flowers had died and parts of the garden needed to be renewed again, another unexpected donation came in. It was enough to begin restoring and beautifying the garden once more.
And suddenly the Lord brought the whole picture back to my heart. Why did He want the junk pile removed? Why did He want beauty planted where garbage once sat?
Then the Lord spoke something so tender to my spirit. He said there would be people who would come to Refuge Ministries over the years who would feel exactly like that junk pile: worthless, discarded, hidden, overgrown with pain; bound by vines from years of hurt, shame, addiction, rejection, or failure. Some would feel so broken they would hardly let anyone near them. But the Lord said His presence would come. And that is the power of restoration.
Turning Ruins Into Beauty
God can take what looks ruined and turn it into something beautiful. He can take old tires and grow flowers nearby. He can turn barren ground into a peaceful sanctuary. He can remove years of hidden waste and create a place where His fragrance dwells. That prayer garden is not merely landscaping. It is a prophecy, a picture of what God does inside the human heart.
There are weary people in the Body of Christ—wounded people. Some have fought private battles for years. Some carry deep regret. Some have stumbled badly and now quietly believe they are disqualified forever. But, beloved, the Lord still specializes in restoration. He still cuts away the vines. He still removes the hidden junk. He still breathes upon ruined places. And slowly, patiently, tenderly... beauty begins to appear again. (Photo via PickPik)
"To give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning..." (Isaiah 61:3 NKJV)
God Does Not Walk Away from Ruined Things—He Restores Them
Perhaps you feel today like that forgotten pile, hidden behind the garage. Maybe shame has wrapped around your life like those old vines. Maybe you feel buried beneath years of pain, disappointment, sin, or exhaustion. But hear the heart of the Lord: "I am not afraid of your broken places."
He does not walk away from ruined things; He restores them, He heals them, He delivers them. The Lord is still creating gardens where others only see waste. He is still making beautiful things bloom again.
Perhaps today He is gently asking, "Will you bring Me the old pieces? Will you let Me remove the hidden things? Will you allow Me to turn your ashes into beauty?" Because the places that seem most hopeless are often the very places where His fragrance begins to dwell the strongest.
Perhaps one day, after the tears have dried and the vines have finally been cut away, you too will look back at the broken places of your life and quietly realize that the Lord was building a garden all along—a place where His presence could rest, a place where weary souls could breathe again, a place where beauty slowly rose from the ashes.
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Steve Porter
Refuge Ministries
Email: G524walk@yahoo.com
Website: www.findrefuge.tv
Steve and Diane Porter have dedicated their lives to helping others experience a deeper relationship with God. Through their work with Refuge Ministries and Deeper Life Press, they have created resources that touch lives all over the globe. Steve has a special anointing to bring forth the deep truths of the Spirit, and his books, articles, and videos have helped people draw closer to God. The Porters live near Rochester, NY, and their greatest joy is to share the incredible love of their wonderful Lord.
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