The Artist’s Perspective

CARALEA RHOADS • NOVEMBER 14, 2024

Every artist knows it gets uglier before it gets better. Paintings have layers upon layers of seemingly insignificant details that all come together to make something beautiful. Eventually rhyme emerges from the “random”. When I used to teach painting classes the two most common phrases I’d say were “trust me!” and when that was challenged, “step away from your painting so you can see it with fresh eyes.” More often that not, when the student would step back they would see what the teacher could see-- the individual brushstrokes coming together as a whole.

Sometimes we’re so entirely focused on what’s right in front of us that we can’t see what God is doing in large scale. But if we step back and look at the whole through the lens of eternity, we have a clearer picture of how God is working. Yes, the Lord cares about the tiniest details-- one dot of paint can change the emotion of a whole painting-- but sometimes our sight is just really narrow. We can only see one piece of the whole puzzle.

One of my favorite Bible stories is found in 2 Kings 6. The King of Aram had sent an army to seize the Prophet Elisha. Elisha’s servant saw that they were surrounded and outnumbered and, as expected, he was very afraid. “’What shall we do?’” he cried. Elisha responds, “’Do not be afraid, for those with us are more than those who are with them’”. I imagine the servant looking between them doubtfully, seeing the two of them verses a multitude. But then Elisha prays that the servant’s eyes would be opened. The Lord gifts the servant the ability to see the scene as it actually was-- “the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” Can you imagine? How much more would we believe if we could see everything God is doing all the time? I guess that’s why it’s so important that we “live by faith and not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Sometimes we will look at the past and see the interwoven intricacies of what God has done. Other times we won’t see the whole story on this side of Heaven. In that case, we have to trust that God’s plan is sovereign and He is who He says He is. The Creator. The Author of our story. We should carry His Artist’s signature with honor and purpose-- even if we don’t understand the masterpiece that our life is yet.

The details of our story add dimension, refining, and reflection of the Artist’s style. So many times I’ve asked God why He’s asking me to give something up, to wait so so so long for something I want, be hidden in a season, or do something out of my comfort zone. But He’s always shown me a reason for it in the long term. When I’m in my head it helps me to get outside. To remember the world is a lot bigger than what’s in front of me. When I look at creation, I see how intentional God is with every single thing He’s ever made. If He cares for the birds and dresses the wildflowers, how much more does He care for me? (Matthew 6:26)

As believers, our trust in God, despite the circumstances we find ourselves in, is often what sets us apart from others. People are watching how we respond to events in our lives. Sometimes our perspective in the face of suffering is one of the greatest testimonies we can share to a hurting world. Looking through the eyes of the Creator, based on what we know about Him from scripture and experience, gives us a rich eternal perspective that will supersede our natural responses. “Trust me,” He says and “Step back,” because He who is with us is more than those against us.