“Surrender”
Gallery wrapped canvas prints available here
Fine art paper prints available here
I planned to paint this outside to celebrate my 4 year sobriety anniversary. I got to start the piece outside but then the wind started whipping. My paint was drying instantly as it touched the canvas. I couldn’t see half the time cuz my hair was in my face. Then the farmer across the road pulled up with a few tractors and semis to harvest. Which was just hilarious to have so much going on for this painting I’m calling “Surrender”!! And to top it off the verse I turned in the Bible right before I got started painting outside was…
“Wine makes you mean, beer makes you quarrelsome— a staggering drunk is not much fun.”
Proverbs 20:1 MSG. Lol I was cracking up so hard because that’s why I quit drinking alcohol! It’s not funny that I was a mean drunk but it blows my mind when God shows up this way speaking so direct to me. Absolutely amazing!
But with what felt like chaos surrounding me it turned out the greatest example of how we need to surrender and go with the flow. It’s not our plan but Gods! “Surrender” is the path to peace, joy and contentment. And that path is paved with prayers and gratitude. Through it all I have learned that surrendering everyday sometimes all day long is good for my heart, mind and soul. Some days are more challenging but then there is growth. Let go. Trust in God. God uses everything for his good.
“So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are. In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen.”
1 Peter 5:6-11 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1pe.5.6-11.NLT. #god #jesus #holyspirit #godsplan #surrender #sobriety #peace #joy #contentment #firmfoundation #humble #faith #path #prayers #gratitude #bible #create #arthealsthesoul #mind #heart #soul #abstractartworks #acrylicpaintings #letgo #trust #recovery #godsplan
Artwork interpretation
I felt called to paint this outside in front of this beautiful tree in our yard to represent laying everything at the foot of the cross. Also because the leaves were changing brilliant colors and fall is the perfect reminder of God glorious colorful creation but also a great reminder of letting go. Seasons change. Trees represent wisdom, family and the connection between earth and heaven.
I started out with a black canvas to represent the darkness that we all experience in this life. Then I painted a face that looks like it could be angry, frustrated, sad, disappointed or whatever feeling you interpret is OK. This is the third year in a row that I’ve painted around my sobriety date to celebrate. That screaming face represents the pain and suffering I experienced during my darkest times and sometimes still experience. I take the face and flip it upside down and create a line with watered down paint to represent the head being submerged to represent our sins being washed away by the water.
Then I painted a silhouette of a person in a surrender pose down on their knees forehead down with their arms stretched out straight in front of them on the ground. Then I painted light starting to come up behind the silhouette of the person that looks like people pulling each other up. They represent all the people alive and in heaven that help us and guide us. The overall image at this point also represents a fire that is burning inside my heart and soul for God.
The black lines that drip from underneath the person represents the pain from the past that grips us and the temptation of the future that tries to keep us stuck in the past by making the same choices. The devil wants to keeps us stuck. Then I start to paint water over and through those black lines to represent the Holy Spirit working through us to free us from everything.
Then I painted the blue sky to represent a new day where there is hope, progress and growth. Every day is a clean slate where we can start again and try to do better. It’s a choice everyday who your going to serve the Light or the Dark.
I was inspired to paint bubbles being released from the person into the sky to represent all of the things that we need to let go of.
Trust in God with all of your heart and do not lean onto your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5-6
God has a plan and is already working through everything that your up against. Lean into God and have faith!
Thank you for checking out my website and seeing how God is working through it all. Peace be with you.
Check out my timelapse of the process on my instagram @renaezanella or on my Facebook reels.
Also check out “Immerse” and “Soak”
.
Grief feels like waves crashing in without any notice and slowly going back out. Sometimes taking my breath away with pressure so heavy I feel like I’m drowning. I can’t put into words the pain I’ve experienced in the last couple months mourning the physical death of my mother. But I can tell you that I have experienced Gods grace and faithfulness on a whole new level.
Because of my mom (she would say it’s the Holy Spirit and she’s right) I finally started studying the Bible the last 5 years. She had all kinds of great recommendations of stuff that she already studied. She said she would study it again if I would do it with her. As I’m writing this I’m just bawling because I wish I would’ve done more of those things before she passed. But I’m so incredibly grateful for the time we had. She taught me so much. She taught me to trust the process.
Let it flow even when it hurts. The growing pains are part of the process. There’s only been a few days that I haven’t cried. I miss her so much. I can hear her voice and things she would say to me. Like “something good can come out of this.” She would say that all of the time.
I have found peace in the pit of the barrel even as my tears fill up the ocean. Being called into the deep unknown has showed me how powerful Gods word really is. It is vital. It is a life line. It has continually pulled me from the darkness.
I’ve also witnessed an amazing community uplift me and my family through these difficult times. Thank you! So deeply grateful we have access to Gods word and are free to follow Jesus with our community.
Sometimes we have to sit still to get somewhere. Sometimes we have to release an ocean of tears to ride the grief waves. Sometimes we have to just sit in the ocean deep tears and let the waves crash over us. So that we can be cleansed. So we can trust. That this too shall pass. That this is not the end. We will see our loved ones again. In paradise.
”Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”“
Matthew 14:22, 27-33 NIV
