Overflowing Hope!

Spring flirted with Spokane last week! The sun warmed the air to 63º F and melted most of the remaining snow. Even though we no longer live in Alaska, every winter seems long to me, so this unexpected warmth literally blessed my socks off! Our porch swing provided a warm place to relax outside and soak up those gentle rays of pre-spring sunshine. A light breeze brushed my face, and with sun-kissed eyelids, I marveled at God’s grace and goodness.

I thought of Psalm 147:16-18, which says, He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes. He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blast? He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.

I pictured the flowing water in a painting I did almost fifty years ago. At the time, my husband attended seminary in Portland, Oregon, and I student-taught art in a nearby high school. Our meager income motivated me to paint this picture. I sold it but never thought to take a snapshot of it. However, my sister-in-law recently visited the buyers, took a picture of my painting on their wall, and emailed it to me.

After so many years of not even lifting a brush, I looked at it with different eyes. It surprised me by the way I used to be able to paint. The cool colors contrasted by dark, graceful branches and filtered light made me yearn to paint again. 

I was so young when I painted this scene, and it means more to me today than it did back then. God knew the future, and I believe He inspired me to paint this rushing stream to encourage me today. He gave me this visual of His flowing love, grace, and redemption over all the hard places and around all the painful obstacles that came after graduation from seminary.

 How beautiful His amazing grace becomes day after day to those who put their trust in Him! That grace refreshes my soul with its life-giving properties! In a Messianic passage, Isaiah 50:4 says, The Sovereign LORD has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ears to listen like one being instructed (Isa 50:4). God, Himself awakens us morning by morning. He awakens our ears to hear and knows the word that sustains the weary day after day.

Not only does God create the snow, frost, hail, and icy blast, but by His Word, He melts it all until streams rush to the valleys. What a beautiful picture of the power of His Word to soften hard and frozen hearts until they flow with new life and refreshment for others.

We all need refreshment, especially after last year’s sickness, deaths, isolation, fears, insecurities, and disappointments. I pray God uses this painting to remind each of us that He is the Living Water that flows over and around all the painful obstacles of our lives to redeem them and bring encouragement and revival to all those around us.

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom 15:13).