Praying with a Painting: The grass of the field

The grass withers and the flowers fall,
    but the word of our God endures forever. Isaiah 40:8, NIV

For a mini-retreat, take a few moments to ponder the passage from Isaiah’s prophecy and consider my dad’s wonderful painting of the pampas grass and evergreen tree.

Grass withers and flowers fall – take in the beauty of the grass with the autumnal colors mixed in, situated next to the evergreen tree. How might the evergreen tree symbolize God’s enduring word?

Perhaps you’re feeling burdened with many cares and complaints. Think also of Jesus’ loving admonition in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:26–30, NIV) related to the grass of the field:

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?”

Give Jesus your burdens and remember that God loves you so much more than even the beautiful things he’s created.

[Painting by Leo Boucher. Shared with permission; all rights reserved.]