HE LIFTS US UP

2022

Angelico Art Award 2024

High Commendation Award  

Acrylic on Canvas

610(W) x 915(H) mm

In this painting, the theme of “Joyful in Hope" is explored by reflecting on the Book of Jonah. One can easily identify with the various weakness of Jonah, i.e. rebellious, disobedient, lacked forgiveness and a complainer. Like Jonah, I have lost count of the times when I "ran” away from God, seeking my will and not His. The outcome of my disobedience has proven to be rather consistent. Instead of obtaining the "freedom" to do what I want, I became more enslaved. My life would get caught up and entangled with the things of this world. There is no peace.

And yet, God is merciful. He does not give us up even when we turn and ran away from Him. Despite all our failings, our weakness and lack of resolve, He always provides the most opportune help and many a times, sending the most unexpected and creative aid to bring us back and teach us something valuable through these diverse situations and life crisis.

It is through this joyful hope in God that inspire us to take courage and stand firm in faith; that in His time, even when everything seems wrong or when our lives are thrown into utter turmoil, God's hand will ultimately raise us up and bring salvation. And may we be able to say with conviction that "I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ..." (Philippians 3:8)