Acrylic Painting 11"x14"

A common misconception of the Christian faith is that somehow, since God is for us, we will not suffer, despite scripture to the contrary. However, the greatness of God is not defined solely by His ability to keep us from pain and trial, but also His promise to bring us through the challenges of pain, catastrophe, and evil. He promises to never leave us, and to make beauty and a perfected Christ-like character in us out of our hardship and trials. (Deuteronomy 31:6; Psalm 37:23-25; Romans 5:3-5; Hebrews 2:10; Isaiah 61:1-3).

The twisted juniper tree is a living testament to these truths of God's character. Twisted junipers face environmental hardships of hurricane-force sheer winds, extreme drought, severe cold, and blizzards on an annual basis. To help combat these hardships, their root systems are capable of plunging up to thirty feet through the solid rock of cliffs, mesas, and mountainsides to find sustaining water. Thus, where other trees would die in such extreme conditions, scientists hypothesize the tenacious root systems and more flexible bark and twisted growth patterns allow the twisted juniper to persevere and triumph against such extreme trials, creating trees of unparalleled beauty and awe.

I was inspired to paint this twisted juniper simply because I want to be like this tree! I want to be a testament to God's sovereignty, goodness, and faithfulness, and to be the kind of person whose character triumphs over trials and hardship no matter the season. Looking up at this tree's twisting and patterned bark from a worm's eye view creates a beautiful interplay of value, color, and texture, while showcasing the magnificence of this 150-200-year-old tree.

The Testament