Adding Joy

Today, I went downstairs to check on my latest painting. I had treated it and only needed to add hardware in order hang it in my home office in preparation for the fall. Checked it briefly and turned it over. Before I go further, let’s go back a bit.

This particular painting is all about work. I’ve had a lot of questions, thoughts, and feelings about that. Worries, frustrations, hopes, and dreams. Been talking to the Lord about it. The day I painted this, I was tired of the swirl of it all and I wanted to listen. Needed to hear. To be in that quiet artistic space with Him.

I filled the canvas with words of life and promise. Colossians 3:23 (do whatever you’re doing to your very best as if it were for the Lord). Faith and hope and love remain. And more. Full words filling the blank spaces. Then it was time to paint.

I use a ton of paint for my artwork. It wasn’t what I had set out to do or intended or planned, it was a course correction for me. I’d been worried about provision and supplies and how expensive paint was. Until the Lord gently reminded me that He is abundant, generous, and that He was my source for my resources. Since then, I’ve found that whenever a painting feels lacking, the solution is usually to add more paint.

I was happy with the painting when I finished and happier to treat it so I could see it on the wall. However, when I turned it over, there was a huge patch of smushed gel right in the middle of the painting. I was so upset. Felt I’d ruined the painting. A mess right in the middle of beauty. Unintentional, but a mess nonetheless.

At first, I tried to get the globs of gel moving, or off that area. Thought I could clean it up, throw more gel on and let it dry. No one would be the wiser. But I knew in my heart that I would always know what I did.

So I started asking the Lord what on earth I should do. I felt another correction. A reminder. Just add more paint.

As I looked at that flower in the middle, it really did look like it needed more. When I was originally painting the flowers, they were magenta and gold and pretty but on the petite side. I felt to add more colour around the outside, and as I did, I heard the Lord say ‘I’m adding joy’. The flowers were full. Or I thought they all were. You see, I’ve been talking to the Lord about that, too.

I’ve been tapped out of joy and peace these days. The worries of my world have left me dry. The phrase ‘ the joy of the Lord’ has been puzzling to me. Until I looked closer. ‘Of the Lord’ means from the Lord. Where on earth do I get anything? It’s from Him. So I’ve been asking for joy because I can’t muster it up. I’ve been pleading for peace, because I can’t find it on my own. It’s His that I need, that I long for.

To hear that He is adding joy was an answer to my deepest heart prayer of this year. And as I looked at the flower, I knew it needed more joy just like me. Gold, magenta, interference red, purple, and interference blue dropped and moved gently. Suddenly, I saw a figure in the drips and drops right beside that flower, looking upward, pouring out from her being, adding joy on top of the mess. Reminded me of the phrase ‘ love covers a multitude of sins’. And just like that, all the shame and blame of the mess that I unwittingly created was covered in more beauty. Added joy.

And I was joyful.

Every time I look at this painting, I’m going to remember how God adds joy. In my work, I’ll be tending to flowers, gently, with great care, generosity, doing my very best, and all the while adding joy. Covering the messes with grace and love.

Adding Joy seems the perfect title for this piece. I didn’t know what He was going to show me when I started painting. I was just there asking a question about work, questioning my work. I knew whatever transpired would be timely and though at times, I find this painting process very difficult as it requires so much vulnerability. Sometimes I avoid painting or writing or songwriting because I’m afraid of what I might hear. But, there’s not been one moment of regret for the creativity only for the delaying of it. The corrections have been gentle, the encouragement deep. He does indeed add joy.

So today, may you remember that when you have no peace, He is the Prince of Peace. He is the Joy Giver when you can’t muster up joy for the life of you. For the life in you, He will add joy. I pray for increasing measures of peace and joy and love and faith for you.