She slowly moved to the front room of her house, she was tired and worn, the years of fighting cancer had taken it’s tole on her body and spirit. She sat in her wicker chair and stared at the canvas that was covered in brush strokes that had been placed there long ago. The rays of the sun warmed her face and made the watermelon red, russet orange, lemon yellow, and brilliant blue paint strokes come alive. As she sat there she felt like the painting was begging her to be made whole, to be transformed into the beautiful masterpiece that it was intended to be.
As she picked up the brush, tears ran down her eyes…….tears that had been welled up inside her for years. The tears came from the pain of the many rounds of chemotherapy, radiation, injections, and surgeries that had ravaged her body. They also came from the stings of the harsh realities of life. Quietly she muttered to herself, “This is definitely not the way I pictured my life so many years ago.”
It was then that she heard that still small voice in her head, a voice that she had heard countless times before, the voice of her Savior. The voice overwhelmed her with a peace like she had never felt before. The words where loud and clear as the Lord spoke to her heart with a verse that she had memorized many years ago,
“Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” – Matthew 11:28-29
A sigh escaped her lips, and her shoulders slumped forward as she felt the burdens of her heart melt away. “I am so sorry Father!” she cried out. “I have been trying to do this on my own for far to long. Just when I think I’ve released it all to you, I take it back again.”
A smile crossed her face as she raised her hands toward the heavens and said, “It’s all your’s Father,every little bit, every problem, every worry, I lay it in your hands. I know I can not do it on my own. I’m making a choice to trust you with the outcome. I pray that all of my trials can be used for your glory and point others to the mighty God you are.”
She dipped her paint brush into the colors and began painting the picture that she felt God would make out of her life. The colors exploded onto the canvas into a beautiful garden scene that made her eyes shine with the beauty of it all. She had made the painting whole and complete, just like God was doing with her own life.
Once her painting was finished, she rose from her chair, and took a moment to admire her work, it was then that she said with confidence, “I’ll never doubt God again. I know His ways are best. I trust him to create a masterpiece out of my life, to make me whole and complete through the power of His hands.”
Linking to:
Soli Deo Gloria
Tell His Story
Imperfect Prose
Word Filled Wednesday
Such beautiful words. Life doesn’t always turn out like we thought. But we can rest knowing that we are God’s masterpiece. Thank you for this.
Every life is a masterpiece, indeed.
–Jan (visiting from SDG)
I’m crying. This hits home. Three years of needles, tests, scans, horrid side effects, biopsies. And,,,,I’ve had it easy.