Facing UNCERTAINTY

Uncertain.

That’s been the vibe of 2024 so far for me, and as we enter into the second half of the year, I don’t imagine that vibe is going to go away anytime soon. I started off the year without a challenge (which, if you’ve followed along with my art journey the last few years, you’ll know that’s a HUGE change for me.) I had a couple of smaller goals in mind, but other than that, my path was very uncertain. I was excited for all this extra space to play, but I also felt directionless… and that’s pretty uncomfortable.

In a recent YouTube video, I chatted about what NOT having a plan has taught me this year, and it’s taught me a lot of very important things! I’ve learned that I have to be very intentional about incorporating creativity into every week. I’ve learned which social medias are beneficial for my art business and which ones aren’t. I’ve learned that I really love teaching and helping other creatives develop their artistic skills! But this “not having a plan” was still somewhat a plan. I had chosen to step into the unknown and explore new things in my art and business without having some big end goal in mind.

But what about when life throws you into uncertainty? When it isn’t a choice you’ve made?

What was truly “unplanned” this year was my repeating a cycle of sickness for the better part of the last two months. What was truly “unplanned” was new health issues developing this year that make daily life even more exhausting than it was before. And that’s the “uncertain” that isn’t exciting. To be fully honest, these unplanned things have been a brutal wakeup call to the reality that my body doesn’t play by normal rules, and that my life will not look the way I want it to. And that’s filled me with a lot of fear lately.

If we’ve been pals for a while, you know that I’m a Christian. My whole life is so deeply centered around Christ, and these past few months have been a reminder to me that when all else is uncertain, He is my steadfast foundation. Even when His plan doesn’t look the way I want it to. And in all of this, (and through all the years before), He’s given me ART. He’s given me a love and ability to express myself through brushstrokes and pencil scratches. He’s given me an outlet for my joys and frustrations. He’s given me a gift I can still use even when I’m sick.

And that’s one thing I HAVEN’T been uncertain about this year: the purpose of my art. The motto of my art has been “see the good.” To see the good in life and to glorify my Creator by sharing that good with others through my illustrations. Because we’re all facing uncertainties. We all have bad days. We all have things we’re afraid of, times we feel directionless, health problems, family problems, financial problems. While our specific problems may be unique to us, the uncomfortable feeling of uncertainty isn’t. But if my art can make one person feel a little less alone, help them see a little piece of good in their own life, then I’ve fulfilled my purpose.

So, if you’ve been feeling uncertain lately too, please know, I’m right there with you. And I hope you can see something good in your life today.