“On the Winds of Hope”
By Lynda Finch


"On the Winds of Hope" was birthed out of a storm that surrounded my life. The Lord had me start this painting as a way to express my inner turmoil, my determination to stay the course and the strength I gained through His healing, grace and love.


My first focus was to paint the clouds. The intensity of the storm quickly built into billowing clouds of confusion, death and a loss of direction. The painting was dark and hopeless, as the winds in the storm seemed to toss me to and fro. It was as though each time I recovered some sense of direction; an unpredictable surge of wind would thrash me around again. It was this experience that made me question who I was, what I believed and the purpose of my life. In Proverbs 13:12, it says, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick ". I was brokenhearted and grieving. My faith was put to the test. I knew that God would never leave me nor forsake me. This would help to bring me comfort and a measure of peace. Family and friends, praying for me, helped to strengthen and encourage me in my weakest moments.


Next, I began to paint an eagle coming out of the storm. As I was painting the eagle, I came to realize that I could personally relate to it. The eagle seemed stationary and unsure. Its mouth was closed and the wingspan was not expanded enough to catch the wind currents in the storm. Even though I looked strong, I felt weak and unable to trust myself or other people. This eagle, I realized, was how I saw myself not how God saw me. The Lord reminded me of the scripture verse found in Isaiah 40:31, " But those who wait (look for or expect} on the Lord, shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. "
Somehow, I believed that the Lord would deliver me from this terrifying storm, but it seemed that I first had to die to the person I thought I was. I had to lay down dreams at the cross. Regardless of my insecurities, I felt the Lord reassure me that I needed to trust Him and He was about to show me who I really was in Him. My old self had to die so that new person could come. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new". 2 Corinthians 5:17.


At this time, I painted a new eagle over the old one. It was a bold and determined eagle. Its mouth was opened to declare the praises of the Lord and His delivering power. As I kept my eyes on Jesus, my wings seemed to stretch to their fullest capacity and soar to new heights above the storm. Romans 8:28 meant so much to me, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God; to those who are called according to His purposes. " I began to use the winds (which seemed so evil and cruel) to lift me to a place of vision and renewed hope. I also began to see clearer and gain some insights into the situation. I began to start dreaming again. I let go of the past and began to move towards the future. The Lord also gave me a warning not to take my eyes off Him, or I could be drawn back into the storm. I painted a wisp of a turbulent cloud around the talons of the eagle as a reminder of this warning..." My eyes are ever toward the Lord; for He shall pluck my feet out of the net" Psalms 25:15.


During the last stage of the painting, I saw beams of light radiating down towards the eagle and reflecting off the dark clouds to transform them. The Light was a symbol of both the purity and the warmth of God's love. Two scripture verses that were significant during this time were: "Then Jesus spoke to them again saying, ’I am the Light of the world; He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life’” John 8:12; and 1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood; a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light... " I began to discover new things about myself through God's help. There was such a freedom, security and confidence I realized though Him. I knew that I had come to a new place and I could not presume to do anything without Him.

He is your healing and restoration...soar on the winds of hope!