Everything beautiful

​My family and I recently went on vacation to Wyoming to hike the Grand Tetons. On our last day there we woke up to the mountains being covered in a smoky haze from the wildfires nearby. At first, we were sad because it looked as if the haze was hiding the mountains and we had a big hike planned for that day. But, as we got closer to the mountains I realized the haze did a surprising thing. It was highlighting all the details you wouldn't normally see. All of the jagged outlines of the mountains, where the valleys stop and start, and instead of the mountain peaks blending together you could see how each mountain peak fit in the range. It reminded me of when I would wear the 3D glasses at a movie. It created a beautiful picture of what God's love does for us, especially when we've been hurt. 

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”(John 8:12) Even if we have been walking in darkness since childhood, Jesus gives us a way to heal from our past and be free. Like the haze that tries to hide the mountain, the darkness of our lives often hides who God created us to be. So much so that we find we can't even remember ourselves. It can feel suffocating can't it? 

But then Jesus. He comes in piercing the darkness, illuminating all of the things about us that are precious in His eyes. He uses what was meant for harm to grow us into something even more beautiful. His light reveals things that we couldn't see before. Talents we have, truths we need to hear, and the reality of our true identity. ​

It wasn't until I started on my own healing journey with Jesus that I discovered such a passion for writing, drawing, creating and stopped believing all the lies spoken over me over the years. See I actually had an art teacher tell me as a child I had no artistic talent and I let those words define my abilities, limit them. I let words like you are too much this or that to cause me to be a people pleaser and quiet my personality. I let trauma keep me trapped in fear. But when I opened myself up to the healing from God, He started to open my eyes to the different talents He had given me and the identity He gave me. But He doesn't stop there. These things about myself He's shown me, they have helped me heal as well. Journaling my feelings, drawing words I've heard from God, even now sharing what I've learned through the process continues to heal the gaping hole things of this world have caused. 

Let Jesus be Jesus. You still have hope. Things will get better. You won't always feel this way. You are not what has been said to you. Leave it to the One who counts the hairs on your head and prepares a way for you to tell you who you are. Let Him illuminate all the little details you have yet to discover. And when you can, go to the mountains.