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Kelly R Baker

Live Yielded, Thrive in Christ

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Difficult Circumstances? God is Painting You into Awesome

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Do you sometimes wonder what God is doing about your difficult circumstances? You know those seasons of life when things just keep going wrong? Despite that, God is working behind the scenes creating beauty.

I remember going through a season like that about 10 years ago. My kids and I stayed with my mom to help her recover after surgery. During the two weeks I was there:

  • My kids came down with sickness
  • My glasses broke, new ones were costly
  • The car had a flat tire
  • My husband hurt his back and was laid up
  • I hurt my knee and couldn’t walk without being in pain
  • Someone sent me a not-so-pleasant email

It seemed like every time I turned around it was bad news!

God’s Comfort in Difficult Circumstances

I sat in my car alone; my tears matched the rain falling on the windshield. A blanket of depression weighed me down.

God, why are you letting all this happen to me?

A pathetic sigh escaped my lips. I asked Him how I needed to respond so I could get out of the dreadful feeling of not looking forward to tomorrow. He led me to verses on affliction.

This is my comfort in my affliction, That Your word has revived me. Psalm 119:50 NASB

I don’t put my trust in my circumstances. I believe what His word says and will gain comfort by it. So I prayed:

  • Matthew 8:17 – Jesus bore my sickness, so I am healed
  • Isaiah 54:17 – No weapon formed against me shall prosper
  • Luke 10:19 – I have power over all the power of the enemy
  • John 15:7 – If Your words abide in me, I can ask what I will and it will be done
  • Psalm 55:18 – He has delivered my soul in peace from the battle against me
  • Isaiah 41:10 – You will strengthen me and help me
  • Psalm 46:1 – God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble
  • Psalm 34:17 – The Lord hears and delivers the righteous from all their troubles

I gained victory and comfort in the Spirit, but my circumstances didn’t change.

Here We Go…Again?

The doctor said my knee was a flare-up from a previous case of tendonitis and to stay off my feet for a week or two.

I’m supposed to be helping my Mom! Maybe some friends can come help?

In that same week, my son had croup and my husband and other son had flu symptoms. Yeah…come on over, friends! 😉

My husband’s family members from out of state were supposed to arrive for a visit a few days later. We tried to postpone that, but they had already driven half way. Somehow I needed to prepare for company and get the house cleaned in the middle of all this?

It felt like it was another week that got flushed down Hell’s toilet tubes. By the end of those three weeks, I was depressed again. But He reminded me…

“This is my comfort in my affliction, That Your word has revived me,” the verse flashed through my head. I knew the devil was robbing from me, but I refused to be passive any longer. I started praying His promises again.

The Best Part About God Using Difficult Circumstances

Even though I knew how to respond, I had forgotten, and oh, so quickly.  

Even today, it seems my journal is filled with frustrations. But then I look through the pages and see how I went to the Father with it all.

God doesn’t supernaturally make everything easy for us. If life was easy all the time, would I go to God as much? Probably not.

He will use the undesirable, difficult circumstances to shape us into His image, and to cause us to grow. He is glorified in that!

The trials we endure aren’t easy, but looking to Him gets easier. And I’m reminded of what He is doing. He answers our prayers, but He also transforms the human heart. It’s His power on display.

Do you sometimes wonder what God is doing about your difficult circumstances? Click here to find out how God is working behind the scenes. Click to Tweet

painting materials

The Truth Is, God Is Painting You into Awesome

A look at God’s marvelous creation reveals that He is a painter. Glorious sunrises. Majestic mountains. Vast seas. Matchless artistry.

He’s still painting; God is painting you.

You are the canvas, white, and fresh, ready now to become into what only the Painter can truly see in His mind’s eye. No one has a more accurate picture of you than He does. He sees you as a certain finished product that will be completed at some point in the future.

The canvas doesn’t get to choose the colors. The painter will chose a color and begin painting, and then a different color and paint some more. At that point, an onlooker will turn up his nose with one glance.

It’s undesirable.

But to the painter, it’s necessary to work toward the vision He has of the finished piece of work.

closeup of painting materials with text overlay

The Color of Your Experiences

God erases your sins, but not the color of your experiences and memories.

Blue. It’s losing a loved one, and leaning into the arms of the Comforter.

Yellow. It’s learning to worship with a pure heart to a Holy God.

Orange. It’s crucifying the passions and lusts.

Green. It’s finding the habit of seeking His green pastures.

Red. It’s choosing to love.

Numerous shades come from His purposes. After awhile, the onlooker can see where the painter is going with His design, and then his attitude turns to eager expectation.

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6 NLT

That work that He’s started in you? He’s working toward the vision He has of you. What you’re going through? He’s using it for good. He’s using those vibrant “colors” to make you into a mouth-dropping awesome masterpiece.

God is the Master Artist of your life, changing you. This is what God is doing through those difficult circumstances, and He is painting you into awesome.


Want to encourage others in their walk with God? Use the icons below to share this post! 

*edited and expanded on from the archives

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31 Comments Thriving in Christ

Comments

  1. Liz says

    June 7, 2016 at 8:16 am

    I love this post for so many reasons! I’ll be sharing it soon on My Messy Desk’s Facebook page! Thank you for the gift of your words this morning! Feeling blessed to visit your from #RaRaLinkUp this morning!

    Reply
    • KellyRBaker says

      June 7, 2016 at 3:34 pm

      Oh wow! Thank you so much! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Horace@pleasingtothePotter.com says

    June 7, 2016 at 8:38 am

    Wow! What a beautiful description of our Savior’s love for us. I love art so this is especially intoxicating to me Kelly! I just need to learn to “be still: and trust the Master Artist of my life! So nice to visit here today via the RaRa linkup. i was definitely blessed and inspired! Have a wonderful week and may God bless you and yours!

    Reply
    • KellyRBaker says

      June 7, 2016 at 3:36 pm

      Thanks for visiting and for your comment, Horace. God bless you, too!

      Reply
  3. Timothy Polis says

    June 7, 2016 at 9:40 am

    Great word!

    Reply
    • KellyRBaker says

      June 7, 2016 at 4:00 pm

      Thanks, Pastor Tim!

      Reply
  4. Brenda says

    June 7, 2016 at 10:30 am

    Just beautiful!

    Reply
    • KellyRBaker says

      June 7, 2016 at 4:00 pm

      The idea came from Him! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Emily Conrad says

    June 7, 2016 at 10:41 am

    Lovely post, Kelly! Thanks for the reminder 🙂

    Reply
    • KellyRBaker says

      June 7, 2016 at 4:01 pm

      Thanks, Emily! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Tara says

    June 7, 2016 at 10:36 pm

    Kelly, what a beautiful image. Green is my fave color and now I love it even more. Blessed to be your neighbor at Testimony Tuesday this week.

    Reply
    • KellyRBaker says

      June 8, 2016 at 3:24 pm

      He’s making you into something beautiful, Tara. Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply
  7. Elizabeth Meyers says

    June 8, 2016 at 11:51 pm

    What a beautiful word picture. God is the best Artist ever, isn’t he?

    Reply
    • KellyRBaker says

      June 9, 2016 at 6:41 pm

      He is indeed! Thanks for your comment, Elizabeth!

      Reply
  8. Pst Norman says

    February 19, 2019 at 10:30 pm

    You are a blessing to the body of christ

    Reply
    • kellyrbaker says

      February 20, 2019 at 10:33 am

      Thank you for your kind words! God bless you!

      Reply
  9. Brenda says

    February 21, 2019 at 4:09 pm

    This is an outstanding post….so encouraging and refreshing, and so needed by everyone!!!

    Reply
    • kellyrbaker says

      February 21, 2019 at 6:03 pm

      Thanks so much for saying so! 🙂

      Reply
  10. Julie Pfeifer says

    February 22, 2019 at 7:49 am

    Such a beautiful message! Thank you! I think back to my most difficult time and how it eventually led me closer to Christ which resulted in my own ministry and am so thankful.

    Reply
    • kellyrbaker says

      February 22, 2019 at 12:12 pm

      Me too, because you have an awesome ministry! 🙂

      Reply
  11. Stacey Pardoe says

    February 22, 2019 at 7:49 am

    I love this verse, Kelly, ““This is my comfort in my affliction, That Your word has revived me.” This was a wonderful post – packed with truth and creativity! You’re speaking straight to my heart with this one!

    Reply
    • kellyrbaker says

      February 22, 2019 at 12:13 pm

      Thanks for your kind comment, Stacey! There are so many beautiful gems in His promises.

      Reply
  12. Boma says

    February 22, 2019 at 9:00 am

    Yes!!! Everything is ultimately working for our good! Thanks for this reminder, Kelly. Blessings to you!

    Reply
    • kellyrbaker says

      February 22, 2019 at 12:13 pm

      It helps to remember the good coming while going through a rough patch! Blessings to you as well!

      Reply
  13. Jenna | Peaches & Prayer says

    February 22, 2019 at 9:34 am

    Great post, you are very talented ♥️

    Reply
    • kellyrbaker says

      February 22, 2019 at 12:16 pm

      Oh wow, thank you, Jenna! God gives me so many ideas. I think we just need to be a good steward with what He gives us, and let Him take care of the rest!

      Reply
  14. Rebecca Jones says

    February 22, 2019 at 10:15 am

    We are his masterpieces aren’t we? Ephesians 2:10, even though the devil tries to paint us with his brush.

    Reply
    • kellyrbaker says

      February 22, 2019 at 12:16 pm

      True. God has paint remover for the devil’s brush 😉

      Reply
  15. April says

    February 22, 2019 at 7:20 pm

    Philippians 1:6 is one of my favorite verses! This is such an encouraging post Kelly and it resonates!! To be pause for a moment and taking it all in, the that God has got all the colors in His hands and will use them to create a masterpiece in me! What an awesome and loving God and that He is our Heavenly Father. Wow! Encouragement!

    Reply
    • kellyrbaker says

      February 26, 2019 at 6:48 pm

      So glad to hear it resonates, April! Phil. 1:6 is one of my favorites as well. 🙂

      Reply
  16. Rochelle says

    February 13, 2022 at 11:26 am

    You are so right Kelly, “No one has a more accurate picture of you (us) than He does.” Over the years I’ve sat in darkness and shed so many tears wondering why so many lies were being said about me? I was being painted as undesirable. Praise God I’m delivered from that. Agreed, God is making me (us) into a “mouth-dropping awesome masterpiece.”

    Reply

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Welcome! I help Believers go from stagnant in their walk with God to choosing to Live Yielded. The result is Thriving in Christ. Feel free to dive into the resources here to help you go deeper in your walk with God. Meet Kelly…

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