Just as an artist uses contrasting colors to draw the viewer’s attention, so God uses suffering to draw attention to Christ’s character in you. The beauty of Christ in your life will look even more beautiful when it shines through affliction. You are a radiant work of art displaying the glory of Jesus!
I’m Joni Eareckson Tada, the artist who paints with her mouth.
And I’m so grateful that, as of late, I have been back at my art easel! For a long time, I wasn’t able to paint because of the pain that it causes. However, last year at Family Retreat, I joined in with all the special needs mothers who attended our painting class and, sitting there watching them, I decided to give it a try. And I realized, hey, as long as I use a small canvas, and don’t work too long at a stretch, I’m okay. And so, this is what I did when I came home from Family Retreat: I purchased a bunch of little canvases, and I’m back at it.
The other day, a friend was asking me about design and composition. He said, “Joni, what motivates you to paint?” And I answered that an artist paints so that people might see something that they otherwise might not see. For instance, I recall when I rendered a painting of a horse standing in a green meadow. As I brushed on the color, there were parts of that horse I thought were especially attractive – parts that I wanted the viewer to notice, like the nice place where the horse’s neck turns into his chest, and that part around his shins, the tilt of his head. And so, I thought, “Hmm. How can I lead the viewer to look at these places? To make sure that he sees what I see, and enjoys what I like about this horse?”
Well, sun was shining on the horse’s coat, making it a warm, golden color. And what is the opposite of gold? Violet, of course! Violet provides a cool, dark contrast to that sunny golden color. And that gave me an idea. I thought to myself, “I’ll lay this cool violet color next to the special places on the horse that I want people to notice, like his neck and his ankles and his head. Gold and violet are opposite colors, so when they are next to each other, it creates a contrast that’ll draw attention.” So, as I worked on the horse’s neck, I brushed a hint of violet alongside his sunny coat. Opposite colors make your eye buzz. Gold and violet make for a beautiful contrast, so, artistically, it was a successful attempt to get the viewer to notice what I wanted him to see.
And you know what? Our God is a master artist just like that. Because there are good qualities in your character that he wants others to notice. Like the way you persevere without complaining or your tendency to quickly pray about things. So what does God do? He brings the cool, dark contrast of suffering into your life. And when the darkness of suffering is right up against the golden character of Christ within you, it will draw attention to him. It’s a principle of art and a precept for life. Beauty looks more beautiful when it shines through affliction. Light looks more radiant against darkness. Joy comes across real and profound when it’s contrasted against sorrow. A patient spirit comes across as powerful when it shines through pain and disappointment: major contrasts like these have a way of attracting attention, and your life, it begins to snap with interest. People start watching you out of the corner of their eye – they’re drawn to you – without really understanding why. They are, in fact, seeing what the Master Artist wants them to observe: Christ in you, the hope of glory, made even more glorious against a backdrop of dark suffering. You are the canvas on which he paints the image of Jesus, so clear and distinctive in your suffering – and, oh, does that get the attention of others! Hey, if you would like to see that painting of the horse, I have posted it today on my radio page at joniradio.org. Tell a friend to visit joniradio.org.
© Joni and Friends