Which Countenance Do You Carry?

I went to a disturbing art exhibit at The Cape Museum of Art. The artist on display was Mary C. Fassett, who lived and painted until she was 101, which is quite a feat. I circled the room, peering at the stoic faces and sad countenances of her many self-portraits. Her other paintings often featured death and doom, painted in dull, muted earth tones. Her exhibit was titled A Life Lived on Her Own Terms, and she was quoted as saying, “Dread fate, and then tempt it.”

As I moved on to the printmaking exhibit, I had to shake off the gloom of what felt like a very sad and empty life. I couldn’t help but compare Mary C. Fassett’s painting to those of my favorite Impressionist artist, Mary Cassatt. Mary Cassatt’s favorite subject matter was mothers and children caught in everyday life. Like other Impressionists, she used bright pastel colors and played with luminous, soft light, creating a feeling of intimacy and tenderness. She was quoted as saying: “I have touched with a sense of art some people-they felt the love and the life. Can you offer me anything to compare to that joy for an artist?” (QuoteFancy.com)

One artist displayed joy, life, love, and tenderness. The other focused on rebellious discontent, death, and doom.  

Which Mary countenance do you want to carry?

Proverbs 17:22 says, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Paul lived out the first part of this Proverb. In his life, he was stoned, shipwrecked, jailed, beaten, bitten by a poisonous snake, and more, but he lived for the joy set before him. While in prison, he wrote to the church in Philippi, expressing his love and praising them as his joy and crown. In Philippians 4:4, Paul writes, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Saying it once wasn’t enough, so Paul repeated himself to drive the point home. He knew that with the hope of Jesus Christ, we can find joy despite the circumstances.

God’s love is good, and it never fails. His hope sustains us, and He walks with us, drying our tears and holding our hand when we’re afraid, until we reach the other side of the valley. And even then He still stays with us.

Jesus came so that we may have life to the full. He tells us in John 15:9-11, As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” If we’ve hitched our wagon to Jesus, then our joy will be full, and our cup will run over.

I always wonder what the allure is of people who spew hate and divisiveness. Why would they stay in their misery when God can offer them hope, joy, and peace? God’s love is incredible. It knows no bounds and endures forever. He’s with us in the valley, storm, and fire, and He sustains us with His righteous right hand. Nothing can separate us from his love.

Now that’s something to rejoice about.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13