The Master of the Sea, acrylic on canvas, 30" x 36"
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What does your daily life feel like? Does it ever seem like there's too much to do, or too much going on? Do you ever feel bone-tired and stressed out?
If so, this painting of Jesus calming the storm is for you. Here's the story from chapter 8 of the book of Luke:
But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, "Master, master, we perish."
Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.
And he said unto them, "Where is your faith?"
And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, "What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him."
For me, the most important part of the painting is the dark, still pool of water with Jesus leaning over it.
This still, dark pool is like the feeling of deep calm I get when I take a little time out of my day to pray.
Prayer is the only answer I've found for times of trouble. For example, I used to get panic attacks due to my thyroid disease. They made me feel like I was in a horror movie even when I was sitting on my sofa.
I would often pray through those feelings of panic, reaching out to Christ for help. And I began to see the fear as a storm swirling around me but not touching me. It didn't go away, but the terror no longer defined "me" or who I was.
Now if you know me, you know I couldn't resist slipping a few more symbols into the picture. For example, there's the moon.
Part of the reason I have a moon here is simply to mirror the shape of the sail, but for me the moon also symbolizes God's light in times of darkness.
I've never seen a night that was truly black. Even on a dark, cloudy, moonless night, there's always a faint glimmer lighting up the sky. And that's how it is for Christians. Even when we go through a dark and difficult time, we always have a Friend to guide us.
This painting makes a great reminder of the peace and power of God's love, and how Jesus can calm the storm in our lives if we have faith. And with the deep blues contrasted against the warm reds and browns, it goes well with any décor.
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