Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. — Psalm 37:4-6, NLT
Have you ever sat down with a little child and colored? If you’re not critical of their wildly-colored, paper creativity, you’ll be surprised by their expressive description. I’ve seen purple skies with green and blue cats and dogs floating on pink clouds. I’ve heard the squeals of delight as they pressed down on those crayons and lifted their masterpieces up for waiting eyes to enjoy.
Ever wonder why such freedom flows through their fingers? I believe it’s because the world hasn’t robbed them of their color. What? It’s a childlike innocence where the senses reside in the full scope of hope, the rich depth of sacrifice, and the pure satisfaction of possibilities. They trust the creativity of their soul to unfold.
Delusion plays no part in their exchange. A child colors much like a person breathes: it’s life. They find their purpose in the life flowing in and through them. They dream first and work out the details in the process. But when the troubles, cares, and worries of life bleed onto their joyous wonder, life soon discolors and distorts their masterpiece. They start to see things in shades of gray and later black and white. Sadly, the world has either stripped them of their “crayons,” their joy, their wonder, and their innocence. Or the sobering flip side? They’ve exchanged their ability to color for guilt, shame, disappointment, grief, regrets…
But no matter how far removed they (and we’ve) become from the masterpiece poured from our childlike souls, the Master of our souls has never, ever abandoned our creative nature. Why would He? The Word tells us, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10, NLT).
To put it simply, God had a hand in our plan long before we ever put a hand on our plan.
The destroyer of all things good, holy, and pure hates what you will become. Listen to God’s colorful word tense here. In the Lord’s design, you WILL become:
- the head and not the tail (Deuteronomy 28:13);
- endowed with provision (Proverbs 3:9-10);
- better at doing and understanding God’s will (Psalm 40:6-8);
- better at prioritizing what is more important and how to balance it out (Matthew 6:33-34);
- impenetrable when it comes to God’s love (Romans 8:37-39);
- strong and courageous (Joshua 1:6 & Psalm 31:24); and
- a practicer of what God thinks about life (Philippians 4:8-9).
Though children have an affinity for wonder and amazement, don’t lose the brilliance and shine of knowing God. He’s always ready to color your world with His spectacular possibilities and greater still: He loves to show you off as His masterpiece no matter how far outside the lines of life you’ve extended yourself. As songwriter, Chris Rice sang, “Come to Jesus and live!”
