I started painting deserts in 2020 when I was really lost and broken. I felt so hopeless and alone witnessing tragedy in my life and the lives of so many others. My life was halted, my post grad dreams were shattered, and I questioned why God would let this happen.
Slowly I started to understand what he was doing, though.
In the midst of this dark season, I started to hear God’s voice clearer than I ever had before. The volume of my life was involuntarily turned down low and all distractions were gone. It felt like I was in a dusty, vapid desert with nothing to turn to besides Jesus. This made it possible to become familiar with his Spirit in a way I’d longed for but didn’t know how to access before.
“The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.” Isa 35:1
One day, he gave me a vision of a barren desert blooming with flowers, and I sensed him telling me to ready Isaiah 35. I’d never read the passage before, but instantly I knew it would become one of my favorites that I still cling to for hope.
When you think of a desert, what kind of plants do you imagine growing there? Probably drab, dry bushes and a few cactus. The thought of bright, beautiful flowers bursting from dry ground stops you in your tracks. And when you can see the truth it’s illustrating about God’s plans for our lives, it’s incredible.
This vision has helped me remain hopeful and faithful in the past few challenging years. Painting blooming deserts reminds me of this vision and makes it more tangible.
I paint these deserts for those who’ve gone through the wilderness and those who are there right now. Life is tough, and it may seem impossible that any good can come out of pain and loss, but there is someone greater and more powerful than our suffering. We don’t see his face, but if we look closely we may start to see the seeds of renewal he longs to plant in our hearts and lives.
If you're looking for a way to process your wilderness season experience, I created some free journal prompts to help you find clarity. Click here to download.
