This week, I worked on snowy skies and landscapes. Woof. I don’t love any of them. Through this process, my goal is to be obedient to God. I had this yearning in my soul, and I believe He led me into this. But I also want to learn my style and what distinguishes me as a watercolor artist. This week, I realized I like painting real-world items and that it’s easier for me. I also like the outcome more. I like drawing the item, animal, shape, what have you, and then bringing it to life through colors, contrast, and a bit of realism.
When I look at watercolor landscapes, the artists who specialize in landscapes do such a great job of making a faraway bush not look like a blob, and honestly, some of my background bushes do. But growth isn’t about what comes easy. Growth is slow, and it consistently takes you out of your comfort zone. That was this week.
I love a good snowstorm. When it’s winter, you can usually hear me say, “I just want a ton of snow all at once.” It makes things cozy, quiet, and there is no hustling. When it snows, I love going for walks. It makes getting your steps in so magical.
This week, I wasn’t excited about any of my paintings. I didn’t look at them and go Wow, what a masterpiece. But isn’t that what life is about in general?! We are humans living in a broken world. We will never be a completed masterpiece on this side of meeting Jesus face to face. We tend to focus so much on our failures or others failures. I wonder if we focused on ours and others wins and victories, if people would more clearly see themselves as Gods masterpiece?
Becasue what’s so unbelievable is that God already sees us as His masterpiece. The finished product. The end result. He already sees us that way because Jesus died for us, when we were still in sin, he took God’s wrath upon Himself, so that we may live freely in God’s grace.
When God sees us, He doesn’t see what we failed at, what words we said (or didn’t say), what behaviors we have (good or bad), what idols we have on our top shelf that we continue to only remove to shine them to then put them back up where they’ve been; He sees Jesus. His perfect son. The One He sent to save us all.
So instead of striving to be this masterpiece by doing more, trying to figure stuff out in your own strength, and focusing on your failures rather than your wins, get to know the ultimate Masterpiece. The One who was one of us. He was tempted, grieved, joyful, yet did not sin. Because when you get to know The Masterpiece, His voice, His heart, His will, His character, your being will line up with Him more and more as you venture through life. Like tiny strokes and dabbles, your heart will become more Christ-like, and when we one day meet Jesus face-to-face, our earthly masterpiece won’t be finished, but it will be close; all it will need is some more gentle strokes from Jesus, saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
So rid yourself of the burden of perfection, shame, unworthiness, doubt, and most of all fear. You’re already God’s masterpiece. So go live a life that brings glory to how God already sees you.
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
Ephesians 2:10 NLT
