I am not an artist, but a couple months ago, I was leading an art class for our homeschool group. YouTube is a wonderful tool when it comes to learning new skills, so I was following a tutorial for a couple of paintings that I intended the class to choose from. As I was painting the background I thought, “what a sloppy mess this is!” There was no way, in my mind, that I would get from that mess of a background to a nice painting as a finished product. I had no choice but to pause the video and complete each step as instructed, trusting that the artist knew where we were going and how to turn this mess into a masterpiece-well, at least a decent painting.
As I was looking at that messy background, I thought about life, and the huge messes it can bring. The places where the way forward just isn’t clear, or hurts that come in and try to shut out all that’s good around you, and I realized that life is much like painting a picture when you are not the artist.
In the Bible, I read in Proverbs 3:5 & 6 to, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct they paths.”
Then in Psalm 32:8 I read, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”
And in Isaiah 41:10 it says, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
My life might look like a messy background, it might have hurt, sorrow, anger, and all life’s messes blending together, because to have a beautiful background, I’ve found that black is often incorporated with the mix of colors, even when this non-artist would think it did not need to be added. While it is all looking dark and messy, I realize that somewhere in the mess, there is also goodness, there is acknowledging Christ and allowing myself to be led by him as to the paths I will take. If I look hard enough, I can find smears of trust and see His instructions.
Just like I needed to trust the artist to guide me to the finished painting, I need to allow God to guide me through life. Jeremiah 29:11 is an often quoted verse but it does good to stop and ponder it’s meaning. It reads, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” It’s hard to sit back and trust the process, but when I chose the painting tutorial, I had an end result that I expected to achieve. By following the process, I arrived and ended up with an acceptable painting that I don’t mind having on display.
Now when I look at those two paintings, I am reminded to trust the process that the Master is working in my life. Making something beautiful out of my messes. James 1:4 says, “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” When following the instructions of the Master, I need to be patient. Patient and idle are not the same. I will keep working at blending the colors, finding the right shade, doing the right things, working for the kingdom, trusting the end results will be a masterpiece.
Suds & Stitches 