A gracious invitation to join our friends for a weekend at their Alaskan cabin helped build our relationship through shared memories. To express my gratitude, I endeavored to make a painting of this lovely place as a gift to them. However, being my usual resourceful self, I used a recycled canvas leftover from my husband’s Olan Mills days by soaking off the original glued-on portrait. I gave the canvas several coats of gesso and called it good. The rough canvas disallowed perfection, so I never felt it good enough to gift. Years later, my daughter found this rough painting in my closet and told me I needed to give it to them, and if I did not, she would. I said I needed to somehow redeem it first.

Still, I waited. More years passed, my tremors became worse, and I stopped painting altogether. This last winter, when I thought maybe I could at least paint abstracts, God surprised me with the ability to still paint realism, albeit more impressionistic. I pulled out this cabin picture and worked on it again. Though not perfect, I finally redeemed the imperfection of the rough canvas since it portrayed a rustic cabin, especially if placed in a rustic frame. My husband took a photo of it, which I emailed to my Alaskan friend. It is what it is and hopefully reminds them of many happy memories with their family.

Although I publish this untimely autumn painting in spring, I want to share a timely message with you. King David says God created his inmost being and knit him together in his mother’s womb. Yes, each of us is fearfully and wonderfully made by the Master Artist. David says, “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! (see Psa 139:13-17).

Not only did God design and create us, but tells us we can be confident that He who began a good work in us will continue and complete that work until the day of Jesus Christ (see Phil 1:6). He has redeemed us from destruction by His shed blood on the cross. Paul tells us to continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling because what happens to us is actually GOD at work in us to will and act to fulfill His good purpose (see Phil 2:12-13).

Just like I took a long time to finish this cabin painting, God takes a long time to continue the work He began in us. Sometimes, it feels like we are stuck deep in a closet, forgotten by God, and abandoned because of our imperfections. I admit that I forgot about this painting for a time, but God never ever forgets us. He promised never to leave or forsake us. He redeems ALL the circumstances of our lives by working them together to conform us to His beautiful image. He also redeems all the painful things in our lives to reveal Himself to us and to those around us (see Rom 8:28-29).

My painting wasn’t ready to give away for many years, and God is not finished with me yet either.  However, He promised to complete the work He began, for which I am so grateful! Right now, He paints our lives on rough canvas, and no amount of human effort makes us perfect. But John tells us, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! …Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. All who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as He is pure” (1Jn 3:1-3).

We don’t know what we shall be except that we shall be like Him. What a glorious promise! My painting will never be perfect, but when we see Jesus in heaven, God promises redemption and perfection to those who trusted in Him. Until then, we purify ourselves by seriously continuing to live for Him in gratitude for Christ’s robe of righteousness around us.

I’m working on another painting I may or may not ever show you. As I work on it, I keep thinking of the first line of an old hymn that says, “When morning gilds the skies, my heart awakening cries, may Jesus Christ be praised.” I’m struggling to paint the sky in a gilded sunrise, but I’m encouraged by God’s promise to continue His work in my life and redeem me from destruction (see Psa 103:4).

I pray you will accept God’s invitation to join Him in a quiet place, make memories, build your relationship with Him, and rejoice in His faithful redemption.