Knowing the Truth – The Healing of Ceasing

          I knew things needed to change. I couldn’t continue at the same pace or lifestyle. I had to choose to stop.

Depression had been diagnosed, medication prescribed, and I was beginning to identify and replace the lies by reading the truth, God’s Word. At the same time God had a special gift of further healing in store for me, a hug from Him.

Still battling feelings of guilt and failure, I was overwhelmed with the care of our two boys. I needed a break. I wasn’t even sure what to do to take a break. My mother-in-law and others would take turns every so often in watching the boys. At these times I somehow found myself going away from my home alone to draw.

Being still I sat and observed. I was able to take in the beauty given by my Creator. He had fashioned and allowed mankind to craft also. I took pictures of natural beauty or what people made and then tried my hand at creating.

There wasn’t a driving goal or purpose to achieve, this was a break.  This was the filling of the blank page with marks representing something observed. Somehow this act of stillness yet creating was healing and filling.

 

 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10 (ESV)

  “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10 (NASB)

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for beauty and stillness. Help us to cease our striving. Heal us. Apart from You we can do nothing, but we can do all things through Christ in us, the Holy Spirit, who gives us strength. Thank you for the beauty You have created. Thank you for the healing in the act of creating something. Thank you that You desire healing in us: body, mind, soul, and spirit. Thank you that You have given us all that we need to live life. Lead us and guide us through Your Word. Help us know You are God. We exalt You! You deserve all the honor, glory, and praise!

In Jesus Name,

Amen!

 

^{~  “}I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

 

~  “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”  (Ephesians 3:20-21)

 

~  “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,”  (Psalm 103:2-4)

 

~  “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3)

~  “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)