Art in Transformation

I was born in Lebanon, Beirut into an Armenian Christian family. I attended Sunday School and was part of a youth ministry. I loved God, but I didn’t know Him personally. Even though I gave my life to Him when I was a preteen, I still felt an emptiness in my heart and I tried to fill that void with many things.

I particularly sought fulfillment from other people. For example, I would spend hours in an internet cafe chatting with females. But in the end, no matter how much I tried, I wouldn’t get anywhere with them. That made me feel broken and rejected. One time my friend suggested to introduce a girl to me so that we could go on a double date together. In my heart, I intended to take this down a sexual path, but the plans fell through. However, I also knew in my heart that God meant this for my good.

Around that time, I went to a church conference called “Encounter with Christ” and there I gave my life to Jesus again, this time consciously making the decision to follow Him. For the first time, I encountered His love tangibly and felt accepted by Him. I had a deep revelation of the sacrificial love of Jesus who died on the cross for me. During this encounter, still feeling uncertain, I asked the Lord whether I was His child. I received His answer through one of the leaders, who told me that she had a vision of God putting a ring on my finger just like in the story of the Prodigal Son. It was after this that the vision for my life shifted toward Jesus.

As I began to read the Bible and repented for my sins (changed the direction my life was going and stopped living in a way that disconnected me from God), my life became about the Lord and only Him. I began to express Scripture through drawings inspired by the Holy Spirit. I felt more joy, peace and freedom as my character and gifts grew in Him. Continuing to attend and serve in the church was an important part of this.

However, at some point I stopped pursuing drawing for some reason. I lost inspiration to draw for about six years. I didn’t know why or how and began to blame God for this long, dry season, especially as people were encouraging me to draw when I felt I couldn't.

Why didn’t He speak to me in the way I wanted, through drawing?

What I didn’t appreciate, though, was that God was still speaking to me through nature and photography.

In 2015, I went to a church conference and while praying I felt immense pain in my heart and cried out to God to understand what was happening to me. I heard a still, small Voice tell me, "I am suturing your heart". I wanted confirmation that this was indeed God speaking. After a brief moment, a friend of mine shared with me a vision he saw of Jesus suturing my heart. He then prayed for me and prophesied that God would give me drawings that would glorify Him and reach the rest of the world. This was my second big encounter with the Lord and my first drawing.

Since then, God has been growing my gift of creativity through art, from one encounter to another. With each encounter, He takes me into deeper revelation of who He is and who I am in Him.

In the third encounter, God revealed to me that I am righteous in Christ Jesus, that in Him I am blameless, and that He sees me in His heart. This had a deep impact on me. In a vision, I saw I was painting this. Up until this time, I had never painted on canvas. This became my first painting.

One day during the pandemic, I fell into depression, hopelessness and anxiety. I cried to God asking Him to heal me. Immediately, I felt a slight touch on my forehead. I went into my bedroom and asked God to continue the healing He had started in me. During this fourth encounter, I felt the tangible joy of the Lord for around three hours, which healed me instantly. He revealed to me His pain for His children who are hurting. I asked Him to use my art to bring healing to His children. This became my first finger painting.

Each time, He takes me deeper into His heart and reveals His healing, joy, and love for His children. Currently, He is inspiring me to create digital artworks.

I look forward to more of His encounters as I abide in Him.

You can visit my pages on Facebook and Instagram to see more of my artwork. It is an absolute blessing from God and I love that through it, I get to bring joy, healing, and encouragement to others.

God bless you!

https://www.facebook.com/Z.Jakmakelian

https://www.instagram.com/Z.Jakmakelian

(All images displayed in the story are (C) Zareh Jakmakelian, used with permission)