As we journey through our lives, we can easily lose hold of the fact that God has a plan for us. We can get caught up in loneliness and fear. But if we place our trust in the God of mercy, we will start to see the truth and beauty of the world around us. When we pause and place our trust in God, we find many reasons to give thanks and praise to the one who made us.
This is the story of an artist who crafts a painting around a lone stick figure drawing. As the painting unfolds, the stick figure must place his trust in the artist without losing hope in what is in store for him.
You can read this story on this website or you can download a PDF printout along with discussion questions here:
Download a Printable Version of the Story >
The Sole Stick Figure
On a large sheet of paper stood a single stick figure man drawn in marker. He was surrounded by white nothingness. He remained this way for a long time until the artist discovered his creation and decided to add to the drawing.
This time, though, the artist used paint and a paintbrush to add to the picture. First the artist painted a beautiful blue sky above the stick figure. Then the artist painted a vast ocean scenery in the background with solid ground for the stick figure to stand on.
Still, though, the stick figure felt alone. There was much to see in its picture now, but he longed for others to share in the beauty of the world. He was patient and trusted in the artist’s vision for the picture.
The artist looked at the newly painted picture and saw that something was missing. The paintbrush moved across the paper once more and, to the stick figure’s delight, the artist created many other figures around him.
Suddenly, the stick figure was struck with fear. The figures that the artist painted were dark and bold and scary. He was afraid that they might attack or ridicule him. Their shapes were much more advanced than his. He was just a simple stick figure. Still, he placed his trust in the artist’s plan and remained patient.
The artist then added something into the hands of the stick figure. It was flat on top and rounded on the bottom. He thought it was a shield to defend himself against the new company of figures surrounding him.
“See, the artist has given me protection against my foes!” he said to himself.
But the artist was not finished. The paintbrush was at work once more and added to the dark figures with faces of joy, not anger. They were not there to attack or ridicule the stick figure after all. They looked out from the painting at the artist with smiling faces.
Finally, the artist returned to the object in the stick figure’s hands. With one last stroke of the paintbrush, the artist was finished with the picture. The stick figure held in his hands not a shield but a golden harp with ten strings.
The stick figure now knew his purpose. He was to lead the others in a song of praise and joy to the wonders of creation and the artist who took mercy on him.
“May your mercy, LORD, be upon us; as we put our hope in you.”
Psalm 33:22
Download and Print the Story & Discussion Questions
You can read this story on this website or you can download a PDF printout along with discussion questions here:
