Into Marvelous Light (2026)

Into Marvelous Light emerged at the beginning of 2026, when my devotionals start again the early chapters of the Bible. Drawn to the story of the Israelites at the Red Sea, I found myself reflecting on what it means to trust God at the edge of uncertainty while preparing to step away from nearly a decade in engineering to pursue my calling as an artist full time. The painting became a meditation on faith at the threshold of an unseen path.

The title comes from the lyric “into marvelous light I’m running, out of darkness, out of shame,” which stayed in my mind when doubts about my future crept up as I painted. Its atmosphere was also shaped by the hymn Because He Lives, particularly the refrain “because He lives, I can face tomorrow.” This song was the favorite hymn of my childhood best friend’s late father, who sang in the church choir alongside my parents. After his passing, the hymn became a source of comfort and quiet endurance for our families.

The painting is composed from the vantage point of standing within the parting sea itself, surrounded by towering waves containing subtle horse forms that imply the time moving passed us, whether or not we chose to step into our prepared path. Beyond them, a radiant horizon emerges, offering a way forward in faith.