Art & Soul post #27 by guest author Emily Shay
Do you ever find yourself discouraged because you are so busy with life’s mundane daily chores and responsibilities that you feel far from Jesus? Have you ever considered how Jesus encountered those he loved-in particular, women in the scriptures? He came to them, right where they were, in the midst of their everyday lives. One such meeting is found in John chapter 20 when Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene in a garden. James E. Faust taught that the Savior’s appearance to Mary reflects His highest esteem for women: “No woman should ever question how much the Savior values womanhood.”
We remember Mary’s utterance at the tomb, spoken with a volume of pathos, sadness, and affection in her words:
“They have taken away my Lord.”
Turning from the tomb, which, though at that moment illumined by angelic presence, was to her void and desolate, she became aware of another person standing near.
She heard His sympathizing inquiry:
“Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?”
Scarcely lifting her tearful countenance to look at the questioner, but vaguely supposing that he was the caretaker of the garden, she exclaimed:
“Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.”
It was Jesus to whom she spoke, her beloved Lord, though she knew it not. One word from His living lips changed her agonized grief into ecstatic joy.
Jesus saith unto her, “Mary.”
The voice, the tone, the tender accent she had heard and loved in the earlier days lifted her from the despairing depths into which she had sunk. She turned and saw the Lord. In a transport of joy, she reached out her arms to embrace Him, uttering only the endearing and worshipful word, “Rabboni,” meaning ‘My beloved Master’.
Near the empty tomb in a garden, Mary was the first to witness Christ’s resurrection – she was there because she was doing the womanly chore of properly preparing Christ’s body for burial. Her heart was pining for Him, and He came to her.
“My sheep hear my voice; and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” John 10:27-28 (ESV)
In a similar fashion, Jesus met the woman of Samaria at the well where she went to draw water for her family. In Bethany, He met Mary and her sister Martha cooking in their home. He did the same for me. While painting My Own Sacred Grove I was going through my own experience of despairing depth– specifically, divorce. The agony and grief that constantly gripped my heart brought me to my knees, often in the kitchen during the hustle of the day.
I tried to create this depth of feeling through the woman’s emotion. I felt Christ and Heaven’s angels come to me and turn this chapter of my life into hallowed ground. My painting is titled, My Own Sacred Grove, because, like Mary, Martha, the woman of Samaria, and myself, God knows where we are and meets us there. He knows the burdens we carry. He sees us, and if we open our eyes and our hearts we will see Him, even in the midst of carrying out our duties, chores, and day-to-day lives.
If you are in the despairing depths, turn to the Savior and through the enabling power of the atonement, this experience can become one filled with the grace of almighty God. The more we better know his voice, tone, and tender accent of love to us individually, the more we can reach out and recognize His voice just like Mary did.
He will come to our hearts.
Listen for that one word – your name – and like Mary, all despairing depths become transported to joy.
REACH for your Rabboni, your beloved Master.
-Emily Shay
Emily Shay
Emily Shay is the honored artist in residence at her live-in studio in Pleasant Grove, Utah, where she messily creates splendor on and off the canvas. With three Littles to wrangle, she considers it quite the privilege to not only rear those she loves but also paint what she loves, each and every day. Emily has a distinct style where she uses her fine art training, love of the divine, and a touch of whimsy to make sense of what is worth remembering. Her work continues to sell its way into thousands of homes throughout the world.
Please support Emily Shay by purchasing a print of one of her beautiful paintings in her Etsy store, Emily Shay Art!
2 thoughts on “He Meets You Right Where You Are”
Emily, thank you so much for sharing your heart, art, and story! Your painting is truly beautiful! Yes! God so desires that we meet Him wherever we are. We just need to listen and open our hearts to His voice.❤️
Thank you, Emily for your thoughtful and heartfelt testimony. I needed to hear this message today and lose myself in your artwork. God bless-