“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another…”
— 2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV)
by Jennifer Greene-Sullivan
Last night, I painted a page in my sketchbook filled with morning glories. As I added the vines and blossoms, one phrase settled into my heart: “Here Comes the Glory of the Lord…” I wasn’t illustrating a Bible story or designing a children’s book. I was simply worshiping with a paintbrush, allowing the Lord to speak while my hands remained busy.
Morning glories have always fascinated me. Each bloom opens to greet the morning light, displaying its beauty for a brief season before fading. Yet the vine continues to grow, producing new blossoms day after day. There is something hopeful about a flower that faithfully opens itself to the light every single morning.
As I painted, I realized that God’s glory often arrives quietly before we recognize it. We tend to look for dramatic moments—the miracle, the breakthrough, the answered prayer—but the Lord is just as present in the slow, hidden work of preparing our hearts. Long before the Israelites entered the Promised Land, God was already making a way. Long before Elijah heard the still, small voice, the Lord had been at work. His glory is often preceded by preparation.
Preparation is rarely glamorous. It happens in the secret place through prayer, obedience, repentance, and surrender. It unfolds while we faithfully read our Bibles, serve others without recognition, and continue worshiping even when no one is watching. Those quiet moments may seem ordinary, but heaven sees them differently.
This past year has been one of preparation for me. The Lord has slowed my pace, stretched my faith, taught me to paint, deepened my understanding of His Word, and reminded me that intimacy with Him is never wasted. Looking back, I can see that He wasn’t delaying His promises. He was preparing my heart to carry them well.
Perhaps that is where the glory of the Lord begins—not in the spotlight, but in the surrendered heart. Like the morning glory, we are called to keep turning toward the Son, trusting that His light is enough for today. We don’t have to force His timing or manufacture His presence. We simply remain rooted in Him.
As I finished my painting, I smiled because I realized the words at the bottom of the page were not just a title. They had become a promise. The glory of the Lord is coming—not because we have earned it, but because He is faithful to reveal Himself to those who seek Him.
Until then, I will keep opening my Bible, lifting my voice, picking up my paintbrush, and turning my face toward the Son. After all, morning glories don’t worry about tomorrow’s sunrise. They simply bloom when the light arrives.
Scripture Study
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” — Isaiah 60:1 (ESV)
Also read:
- Habakkuk 2:14
- 2 Corinthians 3:18
- John 15:4–5
Challenge
Ask the Lord where He may be preparing you in this season. Instead of rushing toward the next opportunity, embrace today’s quiet acts of faithfulness. Sometimes His greatest work in us happens before His greatest work through us.
Prayer
Father, thank You for the seasons of quiet preparation that often go unnoticed by the world but never escape Your attention. Teach me to remain rooted in You, faithfully turning toward the Light each day. Help me to trust Your timing, embrace Your refining work, and recognize Your glory in both the ordinary and the extraordinary. May my life point others to Jesus as I bloom where You have planted me. In His precious name, Amen.
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The Aging English Major 