I never imagined that illustrating my advent study would be as challenging as it has been. I went from documenting my gratitude with such vibrant and fun journal entries every single day to now struggling to simply scribble a few words down. If I’m honest, I will admit that my busy brain is partly to blame (read that- ONLY to blame.) If you’re following along with the Naptime Diaries Make Room book, then you have probably found it refreshing and timely and full of gentle correction. I have been so encouraged by every page, and yet, I find myself hard-pressed to really express all that’s going on in my heart through these daily encounters with Jesus. God is showing me some really incredible things and instead of letting that pour onto the pages of my journals in beautiful displays of inspired art and devotion, I’m keeping it bottled up inside. The moment I let the world in on these conversations is the moment things get real. There’s a part of me that is still running scared. Today’s reading touches on Exodus 3, where Moses admits that he’s totally worried about what people will think and how he will explain his encounter with God. God’s response is so simple “I am who I am.” Obviously these words rang out in my spirit, and I felt super inclined to encourage my own heart with what I know of God, who He is to me. He is beautiful, peaceful, merciful, and just. He is a dreamer and a hope giver. I felt my own insecurities shrinking under the weight of His character as I painted the pages as a reminder. That’s when my five year old came in to watch and ask questions. He looked at my page with so much wonder and said “only God can say that. Only God can say ‘I am’ because He is. He can’t lie. We can’t say that because we aren’t who we say we are.” Just like that, I was wrecked. Friends, in the moment we embrace who God is, we can see who we are not. We are not crushed. We are not abandoned. We are not less than or worthless. We are chosen and belong to Him. When I embrace who He is, I can see who I am. I AM HIS.
Supplies: Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd Bible mat | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd pen | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd Big & Bold Black Eyed Pea alpha | Pelikan watercolors
Beautifully said.
Thank you for your honesty in this post. So very inspiring.
I was meant to stumble across this page this morning. Thank you for your beautiful words. “When I embrace who He is, I can see who I am. I AM HIS.”
Your heart is beautiful and so touches mine. He’s got you sister!
Leave it to the babies to say it like it is <3
Wow , this is deep! Thank you so much for sharing this!