The inspiration behind my “Jehovah Jireh” painting

It’s early morning. Snug and warm under my duvet, I awake to the sounds of hubby in the shower.

The radio is on. The news….

Depressing.

Corona virus, economic downturn, unemployment and hardship. Illness and death.

The world rushes in, invading my mind, jolting me out of comforting sleep.

Depressing.

My mood is instantly tainted by a bleak world view. Will this never end? I feel trapped in a downward spiral, no escape.

Lord, can I just pull the duvet over my head and hide? Can I pretend none of this is real?   Oh Lord, my God, where are you in this? People I care deeply about are enduring painful hardship and difficulties. Do you not see them Lord? Do you hear my cries?

Hubby leaves for work and with a heavy heart I get up and get ready for the day. A little later I settle down with my coffee and my Bible. Can I run into the arms of my Father and pour it all out to Him?  Will He listen? 

Lord fill me with your peace, show me your promise to hold on to. I try and quiet my busy mind, still my anxious heart hoping to know His presence. Take me to the secret place Lord, where my heart beats in tune with yours. The house is quiet. Be quiet my soul. Be still.

As I look through the window, there is no colour in the grey winter landscape outside, mirroring the dismal grey of my spirit. 

Then suddenly, breaking the silence, the birds break into song. As I watch, they cavort and dance between the branches of the trees, singing joyfully of a new day. A new day, a fresh start. A day that the Lord has made. Uncaring of the colourless surroundings, they seem to know that they are the colour. And I am reminded ….

He said, “Look at the birds…” 

Acrylics and mixed media on 50cm x 40cm canvas.

I am reminded that every day without fail, He brings the birds to this window to greet me. Every day without fail, they fill my space with their sweet joyful music.

I am reminded that every day without fail, they sing to me of His promises. 

Every day they say…”Look at us….”

Matthew 6: 26 tells us that Jesus said “Look at the birds of the air; they do not reap or sow or store away in barns. And yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more valuable than they?” And again, in Luke 12:24 He says the same thing. 

He IS Jehovah Jireh, God our provider! In His word He uses different names for Himself to describe His many attributes. Jehovah Jireh is God our provider. He says He loves us more than the sparrows, of which not one falls to the ground without Him knowing it. He has numbered every hair on our heads.                                                                                                                                  

And I know that He has brought these birds to my window as a message to me. The birds are a gift from Him. To display His glory and to point to His provision. He says “Look what I am giving you today! Enjoy them my child” They sing and they fly and they proudly display their beauty and they have no cares weighing them down. They trust. And just as they sing joyfully, in spite of the condition of the world around them, so are we to praise Him and sing joyfully unto Him. And we are to trust. In spite of the condition of the world around us, or our personal circumstances.                                                                                                       

And as I think back on my life, I am reminded that not once in my life, has He left me. Always He has provided for me. Every time I have sought His hand, He has reached out to me and bestowed His blessing. Not always in my timing, but always in His!                                      

He IS Jehovah Jireh, God my provider! Unchanging. Always faithful. And my spirit is at rest. My heart, at peace. I can bask in His Love and trust in His outcome. And the joy of the Lord, which is my strength, seeps deep into my being. It is well with my soul.