A Mother’s Journey in Art and Faith – Discovering Christ in an Abstract Painting

It wasn’t until recently that I found time for something new: painting. What started as a creative outlet quickly became a spiritual journey, one that surprised me in ways I never expected.

My art journey began through prayer and meditation, a space where I felt called to create something from within, something abstract, an expression of nature and emotion. Without any formal training, I picked up a brush and started painting, letting my intuition guide me. The result was an abstract landscape, filled with swirls of color and texture, a reflection of the inner landscape I felt during my time of reflection. The experience of painting was healing in itself, as though I were connecting with something larger than myself through the colors on the canvas.

After I finished, I proudly showed my two daughters. I expected their feedback to be innocent observations, but what happened next felt like divine intervention. “Turn it sideways, Mom,” one of them said. Curious, I followed their suggestion, rotating the canvas. What we saw took my breath away.

There, hidden in the abstract swirls of the painting, was a Christ-like figure, arms outstretched in a gesture of love and openness. The realization hit me with such force that I could hardly believe what I was seeing. It wasn’t intentional—at least not by my conscious effort. But as I stood there, looking at the image, I realized that my prayerful process had revealed something deeper than I had initially seen. It was as if God had guided my hand, using the art to show me His presence.

In that moment, the painting became more than just a piece of art. It became a symbol of faith, a reminder that in the chaos and abstractness of life, there is always something divine waiting to be revealed, if we’re willing to see it. My daughters’ innocent curiosity uncovered what had been hidden in plain sight—an image of Christ, offering love and strength.

This experience has profoundly deepened my connection to both my art and my faith. I now see painting not just as a creative release but as a form of prayer, an invitation to listen to what God may be trying to reveal. The painting has since taken on the name “The Lord is My Strength,” a tribute to the figure who quietly emerged from the canvas.

 I hope this story encourages others to find the sacred in the everyday, to embrace creativity as a form of spiritual expression, and to trust that beauty and truth can be found in even the most abstract of places.

Thank you for sharing this journey with me.

Feel free to share the image of “The Lord is My Strength” and reflect on where you may find hidden divine moments in your own life.

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