by Katy Kauffman @KatyKauffman28

I used to admire their work—now I study it. Master painters of light.

When I was younger, I counted all of the lampposts I could find in Thomas Kincade’s quaint paintings. In Terry Redlin’s masterpieces, I felt like I could step into the fall-colored scenes and play in the leaves. As I learn to paint now, I notice how much depth the light gives in these men’s paintings, how many details it illuminates in each cobblestone path or feathered wing.

We can’t create art without a depiction of light. Neither can we have God-centered, hope-supplying, life-changing writing without sharing the Light of the World.

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12 NKJV)

The best muse we can ever find in this world is the Light.

As writers, our pen is our paint brush, and the blank page is our canvas. (Maybe you prefer keyboard and screen.) Our mission as writers of light is to share the hope we have found in Jesus Himself. Hope that cannot be extinguished, hope that radiates from His heart of love and truth.

While we illustrate struggles of darkness—of wrestling with spiritual enemies and longing for freedom or change—we don’t stay focused on the problem. We paint our pages with light—with the truth of who God is, what He wants for us, and how we receive it. With how to overcome enemies like fear, doubt, and worry. With how to move past a hurt and find healing in God. The shadows in this world show our need for the light. We paint with the brilliant light of God’s Word and the inextinguishable lessons we have learned from walking with Him.

So as you “paint” scenes of hope and healing, writer friend, don’t forget the light. Let God’s light permeate every part of your heart and mind, and share it with a world who needs His truth. His light warms, warns, and satisfies our souls. Capture its beauty in your writing, and paint it on every page.

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. (John 1:4 NKJV)

Katy Kauffman is an award-winning author, an editor of Refresh Bible Study Magazine, and a co-founder of Lighthouse Bible Studies. She loves connecting with writers and working alongside them in compilations, such as Feed Your Soul with the Word of God, Collection 1 which is a 2020 Selah Awards finalist. She recently started The Lighthouse Connection, a monthly writers’ newsletter including writing tips, inspiration to write, and news of submission opportunities.

In addition to online magazines, Katy’s writing can be found at CBN.com, thoughts-about-God.com, and three blogs on writing. She loves to spend time with family and friends, take acrylic painting classes online, and do yard work in the morning sun. Connect with her at her blog, Winning the Victory, and on Facebook and Twitter.