" and provide for those who grieve in Zion--
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
    instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
    instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting of the Lord
    for the display of his splendor."
Isaiah 61:3 

Bloom Where Beauty was Ash and Stone
24" x 36" x 1 1/2"
acrylic on textured canvas
Private Collection

This painting is all about fear and overcoming fear. When I heard the words, "You have cancer," I didn't hear anything but "You are going to die." It's taken me a few months, a few surgeries and the looming radiation treatments for God to finally reach into my soul and teach me about who He is in regards to fear.

As I walked the fine line of giving into fear and fighting it with all my might, God spoke to me in a most usual way...through music. I found this beautiful song "Oh My Soul" by Casting Crowns. It touched me to the core with the lyric "There's a place where fear has to face the God you know." I know God. I've known Him since I was 5-years old. He's walked me through the last 2 years when I lost both of my brothers to the horrible ravages of cancer. Fear of cancer was embedded in my soul as I watched them suffer beyond anything I could comprehend or even imagine.

As the words of the song washed over me, and God's word filled me up, I realized my fear had truly faced the God I know. It was then that I truly was able to believe the words of my surgeon, "You are not going to die from this." 

I am being restored physically but most of all I'm being restored spiritually. God truly is blooming in my heart where beauty was ash and stone. He is restoring joy and making me "a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor." And, even if I have to face cancer again, I will be reminded that "I am not alone!"

Child of the Living God,
Donna Ham, Artist

Fear swirls violently all around me, but peace dwells within my soul where fear has no home. Donna Ham, Artist