Look at your picture

What does that phrase mean:  “Look at your picture”?  If you have ever taken art lessons, you have likely heard your teacher tell you to ‘look at your picture’. As you look at your picture, you’ll see colors, objects, actions, shadows, and highlights. When you look closely you’ll see lots of details. Taking a step back and looking at your canvas from further away you’ll see the overall picture with little detail. Have you ever looked at your life as a picture? Each day, week, month, and year layer upon each other. As we go through different seasons in our lives, our views and needs change. The trials and setbacks we face grow us into the person we are becoming. 

You may paint a lot or very little, or maybe not at all. When painting, you’ll start with a canvas, or another surface. When it comes to canvases there are different types such as stretched or flat.  Store-bought or homemade. Linen, cotton, or even a synthetic fiber. There are colors such as white or black. And unlimited different sizes. You will use various implements (or tools) to paint your picture such as paint, paint brush, palette knife, turpentine, rags, etc. These all come in different sizes and shapes. Just like us. 

A couple of months ago, I was diagnosed with autoimmune diabetes (Type 1). This means that my pancreas does not produce the insulin my body needs to function and requires frequent insulin injections. For the last few weeks, I have been learning to “look at my picture” (my body and health) in a different way. In the mirror, I have not seen any changes but on the inside there are so many. My canvas is my body. My tools are lancets, alcohol pads, blood reading sticks, and a glucose meter (standard and continuous). I have had to add measuring cups and a food scale to my kitchen. I now have to add insulin to my body before I eat anything. My life has changed. The way that I “look at my picture” has changed. 

The only constant in both my art and my life is God. He is in control no matter what I am involved in. No matter what I paint. It is his hand holding mine as we paint together. Deuteronomy 31:8 says that “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” As God paints my picture, he is showing me what I am supposed to see. My picture changes every day and sometimes it changes by the minute, but he remains constant. He remains in control. I can rest in knowing that my God is bigger than any diagnosis. He is bigger than any heartache or pain that we endure in this world. If you do not know my God, I pray that you will look for Him. The Bible tells us that we will seek him and find him when we seek him with all our hearts. He has already found you. He is waiting for you. 

As you “look at your picture”, remember that you are not alone and that God is continuing to paint your picture each and every day. 

If you already know my God, don’t lose sight of the fact that God is continuing to paint your picture. And when the enemy strikes and life gets hard “Be On your guard; stand firm in the faith;  be courageous; be strong.” (1 Corinthians 61:13)

~Deb

(in collaboration with The Little Copy Agency)