Most great masterpieces take time to perfect. Look at how beautiful the Grand Canyon is. The rock formations, the depth, the width and even the colors. This beauty of creation did not happen overnight. Okay, I'm going to get a little technical here so bear with me for just a moment. The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide and reaches a depth of over a mile (6,000 feet). Nearly two billion years of Earth's geological history have been exposed by the Colorado River. While the specific geologic processes and timing that formed the Grand Canyon are the subject of debate by geologists, recent evidence suggests that the Colorado River established its course through the canyon at least 17 million years ago. Since that time, the Colorado River has continued to erode and form the canyon to its present-day configuration (Wikipedia).
It took the Grand Canyon millions of years to be formed into its present glory and it happened simply by water flowing repeatedly over and among the rocks. Year after year, the water flowed, the storms came, the rain fell, but in the process of time, it became a sight to behold. Just like the Grand Canyon is an act of nature, we too are the glory of God's creation. Over the course of time, the waters of life have hit you from every direction—waters of loss, waters of pain, waters of disappointment, waters of illness, and many more. Although it may not have felt like it, God was always present during these times in your life, directing the flow of life's waters. He made sure that you were not overwhelmed by the water's flow. He knew exactly how much of the waters of life you needed and how much it would take to form you into that beautiful masterpiece. Life is full of storms, but it is helpful to know that storms have their purpose and that they are not just random. They came to change the landscape of your life. “We are troubled on every side yet not distressed, we are perplexed...” (2 Corinthians 4:8-12). Though life is pressing in on every side—your money is funny, your change is strange, rent is due, your loan didn't come through, they cut your hours at work, you’re looking for work, kids done lost their natural minds—you must refuse to allow the pressing to crush you. Remember that the pressing is bringing transformation and God is making you. Though you may not understand it, don’t give into despair. Be still and know that God has not forsaken you but that He is enlarging you, stretching you, and through every storm He is making you GRAND. The truth of the matter is that the storms are expanding you so that you can fulfill the mandate over your life. He is making you grand so that you can touch the lives of the people who have been assigned to you. Though you may not know who they are yet, believe me, your assignments will show up. He is making you grand so that you can walk in the direction you’ve been commissioned to go. So, let it be known that the storms do not come without purpose and the wind does not blow aimlessly but it’s all in the plan and quite necessary to make you who you were created to be.
A beautiful work of art is created layer by layer. The artist takes time and gives careful thought about how and where each color should be placed. You are being made into God’s workmanship, into His pride and joy. You were born with gifts and talents already inside of you but only time coupled with pressure will unveil the fullness of who you are. Allow the Master Artist to create a masterpiece on the blank canvas of your life.
My sister, understand that when the storms blow in your life, God is not punishing you, nor is He angry with you, but the simple truth is that you are being made grand. The pressure that you feel is the Artist’s paint bush being pressed up against the canvas of your life, carefully placing each color where it should go. Though the waters seem to overtake the boundaries of your life and it feels like at any moment you are going to drown, say to yourself with confidence and assurance, “I am being made Grand!”
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