Every Layer Matters

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

I’m not a big contributor on social media; once or twice a year on Instagram is fine for me. However, I love watching ‘creative’ video clips. Not being gifted artistically, I love watching how artists build up paintings. 
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I recently watched an artist on Instagram put a small blob of dark paint on a piece of paper. She worked on the ‘blob’ with her brush very deliberately and didn’t stop until she was satisfied she had created just the right effect. Next, another layer was added, this time a different colour was swirled around to form a shape. What was she doing?  This continued over and over until a beautiful, almost three dimensional rose appeared. I didn’t see that one coming! Each layer, although looking fairly ordinary in itself, added to what would be the finished article. Each layer mattered.

As we make our way through life, the Heavenly artist takes his brush and works with it on our lives to create something beautiful, something that others will look at and, in it, see something of the Creator Himself. 

Just like our artist on Instagram, God builds his pictures using layers. These layers can be vastly different, but each layer is needed to complete the perfect picture. Some of the layers relate to pain, suffering, heartbreak, tragedy, loss, bereavement. Other layers are painted with joy, success, triumph, exhilaration, overcoming. 

​Whatever the layers are that God chooses to paint the picture of His image on our lives, remember every layer matters. We will never see the completed masterpiece on earth, but, from Heaven’s perspective we will wonder at how intricately and accurately our God has painted on our canvas. 

And don’t forget Ecclesiastes 3:11,

He makes all things beautiful in His time. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

​Pauline Anderson