“His crown of suffering turned to victory,
What pierced my God became life for me,
Cling fast, oh my soul, to the one who set you free,
In darkest hour, He wraps around me.”
In some of the darkest hours of chaos as my husband battled constant infection from a failed transplant and we waited for a second liver to come available, I looked out my window and the morning sunlight bathed one of the large trees on my property, shedding new light at the perfect angle. I saw the mighty head of a lion: his mane flowing in great waves of gently moving leaves above and below his mighty jaws.
The lion was there for several weeks and it felt like God was showing his assurance when all of life seemed unsure. I sketched the picture on canvas and it sat for two months to the side. A convicting sermon this Sunday finally made me pick it up. It was time to paint the Lion of Judah that appeared in the trees.
The painting did not start well. Those first layers looked childish and garish. I have no liking for bright lime green type colors, but I also knew I needed them to capture the sunlit look of the leaves that first turned my gaze. I soon prayed and asked God for help. I was supposed to paint this, but I was going nowhere and wanted to toss the whole thing.
And then His beauty began to emerge. Layer after layer. Leaf after leaf. Suddenly the painting I wanted to trash was becoming a treasure. One of my favorites.
Oh my God, my wraparound shield. I have said in my distress that you have abandoned me, but despite my feelings, I rest my faith in the scriptures and they say You never do. With You, Jesus, I can take one more step.
My Wraparound Shield
