22/06/2026
About a month ago, I began a small collection of portraits as a gift for a special lady's 60th. I had heard some advice recently regarding getting the proportions correct on a portrait, and that one should turn the canvas upside down and work “the wrong way around.” The reason for this was to trick the brain. When drawing the facial features while the image was the right way up, the brain recognises a nose or an eye, and our hands want to draw exactly that, leaving space for error. However, when the image is turned upside down, our eyes are forced to see shapes, making it easier for the hand to copy and as a result, more accurate proportions.
While working on it, I was reminded that this is what the Lord invites us to do. He wants full surrender; while we cannot see the clearer picture. When we hand over the canvases of ourselves in full surrender to the master creator, what appears upside down and obscure to us, allows Him the freedom to sketch out the plans he intends for us, good plans, plans for a hope and future. Jer 29:11
It is only human nature to want to meddle, to take the reins and steer ourselves on our own paths. It is only human to want control, but there is so much beauty and reward in surrender. Proverbs 3:5 instructs “Lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways submit to Him and he will make straight your paths.”
John 15 4-8 perfectly portrays what a surrendered life looks like:
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples.”
We are promised three things as a result of this surrender:
1) Peace- Peace in knowing that God is sovereign, and that if I abide in Him, He abides in me, and no matter what I face, I am not alone.
2) A deeply fulfilling life - When we abide in Him, we will bear much fruit. We can try to do things in our own capacity and strength, but the lasting fruits that we try to produce can only come from Jesus.
3) God is glorified - Even when we cannot see the big picture, and may feel stuck or in a wilderness season, we can rejoice in the promise that our abiding in him will bear fruit, because it brings Him Glory.
Surrender is never about knowing the bigger picture before it is complete, instead, surrender is about trusting the Artist who holds the paintbrush.
