As I was reading 2 Corinthian 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness,” I was trying to figure out just what was meant by this seemingly contradictory statement. I realized that through His atonement, Jesus Christ has the power to heal everything, strengthen everything, overcome everything and complete everything. But in order for his work of healing, strengthening overcoming and completing to be of use and to be recognized, the must be a wound, a weakness, a failing, a lack. Our weakness becomes the ideal canvas for the Savior’s perfect work and strength.
I think of Bob Ross and one of his favorite lines, “we don’t make mistakes, just happy little accidents.” And you see him turn every stroke - no matter how wrong it may appear - into a wonderful feature in the painting. If the Lord is the Divine Painter of the canvas of our lives, I don’t think he makes “happy little accidents”. Instead He may say, “I don’t make mistakes, just happy little adversities” or “happy little weaknesses”. From the perspective of the canvas it doesn’t feel happy at all - painful is usually a more apt description. And sometimes, for those watching the painter at work, it may look like a not-so-happy accident. But, the Painter has a plan and a perspective that eventually allows his perfect artistry to transform every drip, scratch, smudge or slash into a complete, amazing and perfect work of art. This life is definitely an art project - I just need to remember to trust the Lord enough to allow Him to work His divine strokes on my canvas. I may feel like an unsalvageable mess - but no one ever is. Unsalvageable isn't a word in the Savior's vocabulary. The Lord sees the future masterpiece in each one of us, and He doesn’t make mistakes. The best news is that the Divine Painter is able to transform our mistakes into the happy little features that make our masterpiece unique and perfect.
I think of Bob Ross and one of his favorite lines, “we don’t make mistakes, just happy little accidents.” And you see him turn every stroke - no matter how wrong it may appear - into a wonderful feature in the painting. If the Lord is the Divine Painter of the canvas of our lives, I don’t think he makes “happy little accidents”. Instead He may say, “I don’t make mistakes, just happy little adversities” or “happy little weaknesses”. From the perspective of the canvas it doesn’t feel happy at all - painful is usually a more apt description. And sometimes, for those watching the painter at work, it may look like a not-so-happy accident. But, the Painter has a plan and a perspective that eventually allows his perfect artistry to transform every drip, scratch, smudge or slash into a complete, amazing and perfect work of art. This life is definitely an art project - I just need to remember to trust the Lord enough to allow Him to work His divine strokes on my canvas. I may feel like an unsalvageable mess - but no one ever is. Unsalvageable isn't a word in the Savior's vocabulary. The Lord sees the future masterpiece in each one of us, and He doesn’t make mistakes. The best news is that the Divine Painter is able to transform our mistakes into the happy little features that make our masterpiece unique and perfect.
