When Things Don't Go According to Plan

A Missive from the Field: Issue 6, vol. 1

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

I want to talk a little about disappointment. 🌿

Fun topic, yes?

All sarcasm aside, here in my 41st year of life, I am well-acquainted with disappointment. Perhaps you are, too. Things… fail. People and dreams… die. Business opportunities fall through, gardens refuse to grow, our art is sidelined, sales stutter, and we are often left wondering what happened?

It can be especially hard if we took a leap of faith on a word from the Lord. But, God… You said….

I’ve been in this situation far more times than I can count. Some due to a lack of discernment and my own natural impulsivity (thank you, 80HD…), some because we know as Christians that this is a fallen world, and some for reasons I still have yet to understand. It can make a heart hard and bitter. The Bible readily admits,

Hope deferred makes a heart sick,
But a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
(Proverbs 13:12)

But what does it look like to walk that out in practice?

I went out a few times this month early in the morning to do a study of one of our local churches. Getting the shadows and coloring of the brickwork was a fun challenge!

To be honest, I wish I had a tidy, perfect answer for you. I wish I had the right words to say or — even better — a magic wand to wave to make it easier.

The truth is I am still figuring this out for myself.

I know that part of it is allowing yourself space and grace to process the hard emotions instead of gaslighting yourself or attempting to spiritually bypass the hard. The road is not easy and we are squishy mortals; I believe that God, in His infinite wisdom and grace, understands how tough these things are and understands how deeply we can hurt.

Part of it is giving others around you some of that grace, too, because let’s be real: people can say some utterly hurtful things when they are attempting to help fix it. We hate discomfort, often avoid our own emotions, and therefore twist words and meanings trying to cover over hurt in others, which can inadvertently cause more of it. Learning to discern actual cruelty and judgement from accidental misstep is a good skill to learn.

And I know that part of it all — perhaps the biggest part — is continuing to wake up each day and continuing to sit at Jesus’ feet, even when it hurts to do so. Not turning your back on Him. Persisting in believing His Lordship even if it looks like it’s all going to Hell in a hand basket.

Beyond that? Taking things one day, one sunrise, one moment at a time.

And knowing that the next day, the next sunrise, the next moment where He is waiting, is not far away.

Newly Released Work 🌱

• My painting “At the Fish Ladder,” appeared on the cover of Pure in Heart Stories at the end of April!

• I created a Discord server for Christian and Catholic creatives of all disciplines to fellowship, encourage and pray for one another, brainstorm, collaborate and enjoy community. If you’ve been looking for a creative community, maybe this is for you!

• I recently uploaded a bunch of small, original oil pastel paintings to the Shop. $40 USD (shipping included), mounted on black foamcore and ready to frame.

  

• Two of my paintings with poetry, “Firebrand” and “At the Fish Ladder,” appeared in the Poema exhibit with God Loves Art.

Onward with Courage… 🌿

I’m going to get through my season of hope deferred, and so are you.

We may not come out unscathed, but we will get through.
❦ Heather

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**If you enjoyed this newsletter, please consider checking out some of my other work or purchasing something from the shop. 🌿

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