There was a period in my life where I thought my life was perfect, and I had it all planned out. And then almost overnight, I lost everything.
I had just gotten out of a longterm relationship, which was very difficult. This relationship felt almost codependent at times, where I sort of shut the rest of the world out. I just felt very alone during that time. I didn’t have. Have anyone that I could talk to, and I didn’t have the support that I used to have, because this relationship was my support, and it was all gone.
Every year, the state gives out a very prestigious fellowship to two artists. I really sacrificed so much of my personal relationships, and I was just putting everything into it. And I really thought I had a strong portfolio. And I had applied several years in a row and learned that I didn’t get in.
The only one I had to turn to was God. So I started to pray to God and turn to Christ. I didn’t understand why this was happening. I was doing everything right, and everything still went wrong. And then I came to terms with the fact that I was angry, like, that this has happened.
And I think when that happens, you can either sweep it under the rug or you can be really honest with God. And so I started being really honest in my prayers, and I think God appreciates an honest prayer.
When I was going through that experience, I was praying for specific things to happen. I prayed every night for a long time. And so at some point, I switched my prayer to praying just to feel God’s love and to feel his peace. And that prayer was always answered during this hard time in my life. My studio was actually really close to where I lived.
It was only three or four blocks away. And so I would walk home every night after I was done painting. And as I would walk home, I would think about what I was going through. As I was thinking about how to represent this part of my journey, I came up with this concept of doing a street similar to the one that I would walk home on. In this painting, you can see the footsteps as I walked in and out of these pools of light on my way home.
These pools of light represent the times in my life where I could feel God’s love, where small things would go right in my life that no one else knew that I needed, but God knew that I needed. And they were sort of the waypoints along my journey that really sustained me. The cozy home represents this safety and this warmth. And you’re walking on your journey, and you’re not at that safety or warmth yet, but you’re hoping to get there. In the window, I painted a tree, which for me represents Christ and his presence, just to have that symbol that Christ is always there.
My advice to anyone who’s going through something similar or going through a difficult time is you may not understand why things are happening the way they are, and they may never be resolved the way you want them to. But if you pray to feel God’s peace and his love, you will always be able to feel that he knows you, and he knows really what will make you happiest. And he will lead you through these dark times to something better, something you didn’t even expect, like he did with me. My life is, of course, not perfect, but I’ve learned that God often blesses us with what we need instead of what we want. I have the most amazing friends.
My career is in a different direction than I thought it would be, but it’s also unexpectedly better than I thought it would be. When people look at my piece, I hope they think about times where they’ve experienced similar things, and they think about the idea of a walk through darkness where God is lighting up parts of the way. When we go through similar things like this in life, we can choose to walk in the light of Christ, or we can try to do it alone. For me, in this experience, it made all the difference to invite Christ into this journey with me and to have him come with me as my support and my comfort.
Here’s an inspiring story that reminds us of the power of faith and resilience in the face of adversity. Imagine feeling like you’ve got it all figured out, only to have everything crumble before your eyes. It’s a tough pill to swallow, right? Well, this journey is truly remarkable.
So, picture this: a long-term relationship ends, leaving our protagonist feeling completely alone and lost. Devastating, right? But that’s not all. Repeated rejections from a prestigious fellowship added to her sense of hopelessness. It’s a tough spot to be in, and she was understandably angry and confused. But here’s where the story takes a turn – she turned to prayer and sought solace in her faith.
Through honest and heartfelt prayers, she found comfort and strength during her darkest moments. Instead of focusing on specific outcomes, she prayed to feel God’s love and peace. And you know what? Her prayers were answered. Even during her nightly walks home, she felt God’s presence and guidance, represented by pools of light along her path.
Now, here’s where things get really interesting. This woman, who loved art, channeled her experiences directly into her art. She painted a poignant piece depicting her journey, with symbols of hope and faith scattered throughout. The cozy home in the painting represents safety and warmth, while the tree in the window symbolizes the constant presence of Christ in her life.
Her advice to anyone going through tough times is simple but profound – pray to feel God’s peace and love. Trust that He knows what will truly make you happy, even if it’s different from what you initially wanted. Our storyteller’s life isn’t perfect, but she’s found unexpected blessings and a renewed sense of purpose.
As we reflect on her story, let’s remember that we all face hardships at some point. It’s easy to feel lost and alone, but we can choose to walk in the light of faith and hope. Inviting Christ into our journey can make all the difference, providing support and comfort when we need it most. So, if you’re going through a tough time, hold on to hope and know that brighter days are ahead.
This tale reminds us that faith and resilience can carry us through even the darkest times. It’s a powerful reminder that we’re never truly alone, and that there’s always hope shining through the darkness. So, let’s take a page from this incredible journey and choose to walk in the light, knowing that we’re never walking by ourselves.
dyejo
Guest Author
