As I continue to express myself through art, I am amazed how much it is teaching me about life, faith, God and myself.
This picture started out as a mess. Quite literally. I was picturing sea water, being swallowed up in it- quite frankly that's sometimes how I feel- how we all feel. But as I began to layer on the paint I saw roses....and then more roses. and before I knew it I had an abstract sea of roses. Life is like that sometimes. It's out of the tumultuous waters that God makes something beautiful out us.
As I was looking at this picture last night, I began to feel emotional. There are some roses in the picture that are barely seen, some are struggling to come to the surface, while others are vibrant and formed, standing out above the rest. Often I see myself as the struggling one - trying to get my mouth to the surface to catch some air. It feels as though others have overtaken me, and I'm fighting just to survive. (Depression is like that).
As I pondered this, God brought to my mind Psalm 107. Below is a portion.
Some went down to the sea in ships,
doing business on the great waters;
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they saw the deeds of the Lord,
his wondrous works in the deep.
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For he commanded and raised the stormy wind,
which lifted up the waves of the sea.
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They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths;
their courage melted away in their evil plight;
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they reeled and staggered like drunken men
and were at their wits' end.
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Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
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He made the storm be still,
and the waves of the sea were hushed.
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Then they were glad that the waters were quiet,
and he brought them to their desired haven.
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Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
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Let them extol him in the congregation of the people,
and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
He commanded and raised the stormy wind. God is sovereign over the wind and the waves. Sometimes He appoints them.
They saw his wondrous works in the deep. Are deep waters really the worst place to be if that is where I can see God and know and understand Him more fully? Maybe He has me here for this very reason.
He brought them to their desired haven [a place of safety and refuge]. This is a promise. I desire to be safe, at rest, and at peace. God will bring me there. I can trust that He will.
Which rose do you see yourself as? Know whether you are struggling for air, swallowed up by the waters or blooming bright and beautiful, God is with you. His steadfast love will be with you. Thank Him for that.
