When God Used A Painting

Her father was diagnosed with kidney cancer. The news was crushing. A month later her husband was diagnosed with the same cancer. Sadly the disease progressed quickly and she lost both men within a few short weeks of each other. “Why God, why?” The question kept pounding through her thoughts.

Right up until their passing she had made daily visits to the hospital sitting by their respective bedsides. She was exhausted and worn. Now she sat, in a silent house, alone.

Not long after I had begun painting, I began journaling– in picture form– through the gospels. I painted one painting per day, featuring some thought that had spoken to me in the chapter I had read that morning. I shared them daily in a Facebook Group I belonged to. She was scrolling through the day’s posts, when my painting grabbed her attention. There in front of her was a painting of the very hospital she had recently made daily visits too. The words jumped from the screen. “…If I want him to remain until I come what is that to you?” John 21:22 Followed by “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28 NLT

It was just a “random” photo off the internet that I had painted…or was it? God had heard her cries, seen her tears, and understood her questionings. He saw the big picture that she could not see and gently said “my child, trust me”

She immediately contacted me, related her story and requested a print of the painting. It gives me shivers to think how God had been working behind the scenes, not only inspiring my painting, but also guiding me to the exact photo to paint!

How often do we get caught up in questioning, forgetting that God sees the end from the beginning? I’m sure Joseph, while sitting in the bottom of the empty well, or while locked in prison, questioned “Why God, why?” Or Jochebed as she laid Moses in the basket. Later they were given the answer to the “why” question.

More often than not, we can look back and see why things were allowed to go as they did and know we wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. Still other times we can’t see the reason but can trust that God does.

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” -Hebrews 10:23 NKJV