Watercolor Devotional 2
by Jennifer Greene-Sullivan
Today, I sat painting flowers while talking to my daughter Anya in South Africa. Even writing that sentence makes me pause because I am still amazed how God has restored her life and her ministry!
Years ago, I fought for this daughter in prayer. I cried out to God over her struggles, her healing, and her future, and there were seasons when I could not see what the Lord was doing, only that I needed Him to move.
Today, she is serving Jesus across the world.
She told me about inner-city ministry, cultural differences, flower beds, chicken coops, and the sacred messiness of grassroots ministry. The kind of ministry that gets dirt beneath your fingernails and places the love of Jesus directly into the hands of people who need Him.
Hands-and-feet ministry.
Mark 16:15 lived out:
“Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” (ESV)
As she spoke, I kept painting and praising because suddenly I realized this was worship too. The Lord has given me an entirely new expression of praise.
Anya goes forth in Africa.
I listened.
Different places.
Same Kingdom Business
As my paintbrush moved across the page, I realized the bouquet I was creating felt like gratitude on paper. In my praise and gratitude, a visible reminder that God still answers prayers regardless of the heartache and tears emerged from what first just looked like random, colorful tic tacks.
Psalm 126:5–6 says:
“Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.” (ESV)
That verse feels personal today because sometimes the harvest looks like watching your daughter live out the Gospel in another nation while you sit at home praising the God who redeemed her story.
This bouquet feels like proof.
Proof that God answers prayers.
Proof that beauty can bloom from battles.
Proof that torn wings really do fly.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
What prayers have you sown through tears? Is there a place in your life where you have battled in faith, cried out for healing, or waited for the Lord to move? Sometimes we pray for breakthrough and do not realize we are planting seeds for a future harvest.
Spend time meditating on:
📖 Mark 16:15 — The call to go
📖 Psalm 126:5–6 — Tears becoming harvest
📖 Isaiah 61:3 — Beauty for ashes
📖 Galatians 6:9 — Do not grow weary
Challenge:
Take a moment today to thank God for one prayer He has already answered—even if the answer looked different than you imagined. What if you are still waiting?
Keep planting.
The harvest belongs to Him.
Prayer
Lord,
Thank You for answered prayers I once thought impossible. Thank You for the joy of watching fruit grow from seeds planted in tears. Thank You for redeeming stories that once felt broken beyond repair. Teach me to worship You in every season and through every expression You place in my hands. Whether I am sending, going, waiting, or simply praising from where I stand, let my life bring You glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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Flowers While She Goes
by Jennifer Greene-Sullivan
Today, I sat painting flowers while talking to my daughter in South Africa.
Even writing that sentence makes me pause.
Years ago, I fought for this daughter in prayer. I cried out to God over her struggles, her healing, and her future. There were seasons when I could not see what the Lord was doing, only that I needed Him to move.
Today, she is serving Jesus across the world.
She told me about inner-city ministry, cultural differences, flower beds, chicken coops, and the sacred messiness of grassroots ministry. The kind of ministry that gets dirt beneath your fingernails and places the love of Jesus directly into the hands of people who need Him.
Hands-and-feet ministry.
Mark 16:15 lived out:
“Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” (ESV)
As she spoke, I kept painting.
And praising.
Because suddenly, I realized this was worship too.
An entirely new expression of praise.
She was going.
I was listening.
Different places.
Same Kingdom.
As my paintbrush moved across the page, I realized the bouquet I was creating felt like gratitude on paper. A visible reminder that God still answers prayers we once prayed through tears.
Psalm 126:5–6 says:
“Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.” (ESV)
That verse feels personal today.
Because sometimes the harvest looks like watching your daughter live out the Gospel in another nation while you sit at home praising the God who redeemed her story.
This bouquet feels like proof.
Proof that God answers prayers.
Proof that beauty can bloom from battles.
Proof that torn wings really do fly.
🌸 HOW ABOUT YOU?
What prayers have you sown through tears?
Is there a place in your life where you have battled in faith, cried out for healing, or waited for the Lord to move?
Sometimes we pray for breakthrough and do not realize we are planting seeds for a future harvest.
Spend time meditating on:
📖 Mark 16:15 — The call to go
📖 Psalm 126:5–6 — Tears becoming harvest
📖 Isaiah 61:3 — Beauty for ashes
📖 Galatians 6:9 — Do not grow weary
Challenge:
Take a moment today to thank God for one prayer He has already answered—even if the answer looked different than you imagined.
And if you are still waiting?
Keep planting.
The harvest belongs to Him.
💛 Closing Prayer
Lord,
Thank You for answered prayers I once thought impossible.
Thank You for the joy of watching fruit grow from seeds planted in tears. Thank You for redeeming stories that once felt broken beyond repair.
Teach me to worship You in every season and through every expression You place in my hands. Whether I am sending, going, waiting, or simply praising from where I stand, let my life bring You glory.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Hashtags
#AgingEnglishMajor #FlowersWhileSheGoes #AnsweredPrayer #Mark1615 #Psalm126 #BeautyFromBattles #ChristianDevotional #HandsAndFeetMinistry #FaithJourney #WomenOfFaith #PrayerWarriorMama #ArtAsWorship #DevotionalArt #GodAnswersPrayer #TornWingsStillFly
The Aging English Major 