Hi and welcome back to another week on the Chrissie Murphy Designs Blog. What a time we find ourselves in! Coronavirus is everywhere, affecting everyone is some way or another. Our world as we know it is changing. The pace of change has been frightening for some and as a result fear and turmoil has been rising. Now more than ever, I sense the importance of sharing hope, of bringing a moment of peace to those around us amid the fear and turmoil we find ourselves in. Now is the time to be sharing things of Substance.
Why Substance?
There’s a verse in Hebrews that sums up my heart.
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1
Faith has substance. Faith is about putting your hope in something, believing for things unseen. So I can’t physically see the end of the Coronavirus Pandemic, but I can believe for it. I can put my hope in the Lord to deliver us from it.
I’m conscious of the 24hour news feeds, the constant barrage of information we’re absorbing and the fear that it is building among our communities. Now more than ever I feel compelled to share art, to bring a moment of peace, of beauty and of hope to you all.
Substance has matter and occupies space…
The dictionary defines Substance as “that which has matter and occupies space; density and body”. There’s form and depth to things which have substance.
I recently finished my Substance piece, another reflection word from the Lord. It was a mixed media piece, and pictured above is its first layer. A watercolour wash featuring a text transfer of the definition from an old dictionary.
Next I added an additional layer of stamping, and another layer of handwritten text. I was trying to build that body, depth and density that things of substance have. It’s an artistic expression of that which I sense the Lord requires from all of us – to be people of Substance.
Gifts and Talents
God gives each of us gifts and talents, and I encourage you, now more than ever to share them…. Covid-19 is taking a huge toll on our health system, but I’m mindful of the potential it has to overwhelm our mental health system.
We need people with gifts and talents to help break the relentless feed we’re seeing of news stories around Coronavirus. Don’t get me wrong, the news stories are important, but the extreme levels we’re seeing can take a toll on our mental health as they build fear and anxiety in some.
My heart is to bring people some comfort, peace and relief in any way I can, and for me, that’s by creating and sharing art, to #BreakTheBarrage. I am asking you, that if you have a gift or talent, to begin sharing it as well.
We need things of Substance
We need things of substance, things that can help to occupy this corona-soaked fear-filled space that have depth and meaning, things that fight fear, anxiety, loneliness and depression. Your poetry, your famous spag bol, your crochet, your impersonations, your drawing, your painting, your singing, your drum solo’s, your cat whispering techniques, whatever! Now more than ever the world needs to see it.
I believe it’s no coincidence that we have the technology we do to see us through a time like this. Let us be careful to ensure our technology is not being highjacked by fear mongering content. We do that by sharing things of substance, because things of substance can fight fear. Things of substance look beyond what’s going to what’s really happening in people’s hearts.
How the heart works
There’s a verse in a Proverbs that explains this well, it says…
“Laughter can conceal a heavy heart, but when the laughter ends, the grief remains.”
Proverbs 14:13
This verse highlights how the human heart can work. We use things to conceal what’s really going on, and when those things end, the root remains. We have been barraged with information, and as I said earlier, don’t get me wrong, some of it is important…
BUT, sometimes the barrage of information works to drive home the understanding that the things we’ve relied on to help conceal what’s really going on in our hearts, may end soon. And when they do, those deep root issues (our hurts and woundedness) will remain. This is why I believe people are fearful. When you’ve relied on partying, on sex, on drugs, on binge eating, gambling or even particular people (for example), to help you deal with your hurt and anger, it may become increasingly difficult to access these coping strategies in the future. Naturally, fear and anxiety will build.
We fight Fear with Faith
I’ve just finished watching my Church’s sermon online, and the overarching message was that faith is what defeats fear. Remember that verse I shared earlier, Faith is the SUBSTANCE of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. We fight fear with faith. We put our faith in the Lord and believe He will deliver us despite the fear we have. We set our eyes on the delivery, on the other side.
Let’s be mindful of the fears our communities have because they are very real.
“Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds,”
Proverbs 27:23
Let’s share things of substance, things that enable our communities to put their hope in the Lord for delivery from their hurts in spite of fear. God gave each of us gifts, let’s use them to occupy the corona-soaked fear-filled space with density, body, depth and meaning. Break the barrage my friend, there’s never been a time where it’s been more important.
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Until next time, listen to your heart and sharpen your coloured pencils. A masterpiece awaits!
Bless you my friend
Chrissie xx
“Faith has substance.” I love that! We believe with certainty in a God who we cannot see–but we can know and experience Him and see the effect the Holy Spirit has on people, like a wind blowing through the trees is invisible but shows that it’s a substance that can even uproot trees when strong enough!
Amen! So true Susan xx