Let It Flow.

Some people who have been long time readers of the blog will know, I’m a creative person who loves to make beautiful things. For example the majority of my blog post pictures for years were my own photographs of where I lived, or of art pieces I made or drew.

I had studied fine arts at school like most people, but it wasn’t until 2013 that I returned to ‘art class’. I wanted to get back into art and knew my skills needed polishing. Plus I had been single for a year and also wanted some healthy, adult interaction. It was around the same time of beginning this blog, as the blog too was a healthy, expressive outlet for my creativity and a way to connect with others.

Fast forward to the end of 2016 when I met my now husband, and we connected both as mature Christians and as creative people. It wasn’t long until we found out about acrylic pouring and began experimenting with this modern art technique. It was a great way for us to connect and bond. We were able to see each other’s temperament when things didn’t go quite to plan!

One of my recent paintings, 'Ocean Swell'.

Acrylic painting has an expression, “let it flow”, as you let the fluid paint run and expand over the surface. It’s mesmerising as the paint reacts with the insoluble silicon and makes incredible ‘cells’ bursting with colour. It can be quite a tense wait to see what will organically form before your eyes, before you’re able to do anything else…

So much has happened for me over the past year, more than I could have ever imagined possible in such a short amount of time, but after settling in together as a family we’re back to creating paintings and it’s got me thinking about how just like with the paintings, we must ‘let it flow’ in life to remain in God’s Will. By this I mean going with things naturally, patiently waiting then reacting when we can see what we’re dealing with.

At times in my life I have felt anxious about remaining in God’s Will, to the point where I’ve made myself stress so much I was not very joyful. I know I put this burden upon myself, but sometimes it’s difficult when we’re not sure about what our next step should be…

I have found as I’ve journeyed along and tried to discern His Will for my life, that as long as I’m not sinning it’s been fine to step on some ‘steps’ to test whether or not they’re for me. There have been times when I’ve been absolutely sure of His Will and it has happened (like when I met Richard) and other times when I’ve been sure something was right and it didn’t work out…

In those times however I needed to patiently wait and ‘let it flow’ to discern further in regards to what my next step should be, if anything. Just like acrylic painting, it can be a tense time waiting to see what comes to the surface and what the next step should be.

Recently I resigned from school chaplaincy to return to home-schooling the boys as I knew they needed me. I was quite sure that while they studied I should as well. I planned to complete a Graduate Diploma in Christian Counselling. I prayed about it, and it all seemed to ‘fit’ in my mind. Yet as life began to ‘flow’ and I began doing some schooling with the boys, I quickly realised that progressing with the study at this time would be too much for me. Before the course officially began I cancelled my enrolment.

'Pink Tulip on black gloss' I painted this last night.

I was finding that come late afternoon and evening, I had no energy left for further academics. Interestingly, since I’ve made the decision to not study at this time, I have found a renewed energy for acrylic pouring. I am less stressed, and Richard and I are really enjoying making art together again. Yes, God is good, all the time. It’s we who often put the burdens upon ourselves.

I have found sometimes we just need to relax and ‘let it flow’. I believe organic, spiritual growth, is a wonderful blessing from The Lord that is natural and healthy. When we get anxious and stressed our vision can become clouded…worse still we can panic and then push for our own will, rather than His.

Letting it flow, isn’t being complacent, it’s patiently waiting rather than reacting too early. It’s expectantly waiting for assurance on the next step. The next step may be to continue forward or to retreat back, and either is fine when it’s His Will.

He really loves us so much He doesn’t burden us beyond what’s good for us, rather He wants to grow us naturally and organically. Organic growth is a process that requires we stay close to Him as our gardener. Just as Jesus said we must remain grafted onto God’s vine through Him, we cannot be obedient to His Will without being connected to Him as His children. When we are secure in our relationship with Him, it makes it easier to relax and ‘let it flow’ while we patiently await to see what forms and becomes clear before our eyes…Indeed waiting and letting things flow can be very wise indeed.

He calls us to peace, and there is so much peace in relaxing and trusting Him, as we stay close to Him observing, and letting it flow.

With much love, Melanie.