Written by: Lené Pienaar
Article source: JOY! Magazine
17 years, that’s right, 17 years ago the Lord gave me a project with a promise. In this age of instant everything, how do you even begin to justify being busy with one project for that amount of time? Yet isn’t that often the way of the Lord? After all, history tells us that Abraham’s promise unfolded over 25 years, earning him the title “the father of faith”. Moses was prepared over 40 years, and the Apostle Paul spent 14 years being moulded before his ministry began. Or am I simply comforting myself by suggesting that there is something normal about all this? Let’s start at the beginning…
A divine calling – when God asks for your gift
My journey began when the Lord called me to offer my gift back to Him. At that time, I was a professional oil painter whose career had skyrocketed in just seven years – from my first solo exhibition in 2000 to the global stage by 2007. At that point, I was immersed in a high-profile international collaboration involving some of the art world’s most iconic names, supported by influential figures in secular media. My work was being promoted and sold from Singapore to California; I was, as many would say, “becoming someone”.
Laying it all down – surrendering to His purpose
Then, at that very moment, the Lord intervened with a simple yet profound question: Would I be willing to set aside all my ambitions and let Him anoint my oil paintings for His use? He explained that He intended to use my art as a meeting point between Himself and people – a notion that was both astounding and completely unexpected. I won’t lie; the decision was far from easy. But since the Lord had always been my first love, surrender was the only true option.
A hidden exhibition with eternal impact
I stepped away from my secular connections and spent a season at the Lord’s feet to understand more of what He wanted of me. This time of waiting resulted in a private solo exhibition I named “Gates of Glory”. It was 2008 when I opened my front door and held my breath. By some miracle, the Lord drew in the individuals He wanted to touch, to that hidden exhibition. It was a deeply special experience, filled with an intense yet gentle presence that lingered in the space, a sacred treasure shared by everyone present – and a number of tissues.
A divine connection with JOY! Magazine
Interestingly, it was during that exhibition that my relationship with JOY! also began. One of the hearts the Lord brought into that space was a remarkable lady, Erin Georgiou, editor of JOY! Magazine. If that exhibition taught me anything, it was that nothing is more precious than being at the very centre of God’s will. Experiencing His presence and watching others be moved by Him became all I desired from that moment on. Naturally, after that exhibition, I waited to hear what His purposes had in store next.
A promise greater than I imagined
That was 17 years ago. Our faithful God did reveal His heart, sharing details of the next exhibition He had in store for me. But this one was different. I was overwhelmed by the promises He made, realising that everything that had gone before was only a hint of what lay ahead – the best was yet to come.
Facing my Goliaths – the testing season
Yet, there was a looming challenge. To fulfil what the Lord now asked of me, I had to confront my two greatest Goliaths. Although I was willing, I was completely incapable of overcoming them on my own. And in a way that only the Lord can, He comforted me, assuring me that He would take me on a journey to prepare me for His call.
Stripped of everything – a decade-long refining process
That journey began like a whirlwind just a week later. It led me into depths beyond what I could ever have imagined and held me captive for nearly ten years. Those years stripped away everything – my pride, my strength, even any hope of ever painting again. Through it all, my constant prayer was, “Lord, please don’t give up on me,” because I had nothing left to offer Him. My only fear was failing Him, falling short of His calling and letting Him down. Yet the strangest part was that the less I became, the more God’s magnificence swelled within me. The more I surrendered, the deeper my love for Him grew, and the more I wanted to exalt Him and share His infinite beauty with others. It turned into a hunger, a burden, a deep need to express His glory. I gradually emerged from that paralysing season, with the journal I kept of my journey, which had somehow transformed into a novel about God’s relentless love.
A season of healing and restoration
That experience freed me in unexpected ways. I was healed in my most broken places; and true to His promise, my personal Goliaths had simply vanished. At last, I was able to begin work on the exhibition the Lord had made so many promises about. In truth though, He had been shaping it within my heart all along during those difficult years – forming something that had a richness and depth I had not witnessed in my 33 years of walking with Him.
When God sends unexpected help
There were so many surprises during this journey. For example, there was a time when I felt hopeless and defeated, convinced I would never break through or complete the project.
So, the Lord sent an unexpected blessing in the form of Mauritz Lotz, who reached out to me completely out of the blue. Who could have predicted that He would move the three-time Grammy Award-winning legend to lend his extraordinary talents to what we were building? Mauritz didn’t just write music for the project, he poured his heart into it, composing possibly the most moving and anointed music I have heard, leaving me on my knees in worship again. God had sent someone to elevate the project and restore my faith that He was still invested in it.
Another surprise was when He brought JOY! back into my story. This time, through an opportunity to join JOY! Travel on a trip to Israel despite the war. I had always dreamt of going, and that yearning only intensified after my novel featured scenes of Jesus’ crucifixion. The trip to Israel exceeded everything I had hoped it would be. I returned not only re-inspired, but also with a powerful sense that the time had finally come for my project to see the light.
A divine appointment in Israel
Since that trip, it feels as if the hand that was holding me back from completing the project was released. The season is ripe, and the Lord has rapidly begun assembling the puzzle pieces, drawing together the most extraordinary collage of deeply talented people to contribute to the missing portions of the project, to the point where it has matured into more than I even imagined. But best of all is how we can all sense that this is no ordinary thing, this is bigger than all of us, this is holy ground – this is Him.
An exhibition beyond imagination
So, what is the project? An immersive exhibition that takes us into the heart of God. Through a host of different mediums, we will be absorbed into the experiences of an angel who asks God to explain to him why He loves humanity so deeply. We get to share in his journey of discovery, and ultimately find ourselves back 2000 years ago, in front of our Lord’s cross outside Jerusalem.
An invitation to experience God’s heart
We expect the launch to happen in a number of months. And if what God has poured into bringing it to life is any indication, it promises to be a life-changing experience. It began as God’s project, it will be completed as His project, and those of us honoured to be part of it remain humbled and in awe of what He is busy doing. 17 years ago, the Lord shared with me His dream of how He wanted to touch people. I can hardly wait for the day I get to witness Him doing it.
The time is now – preparing for the launch
For those who wish to follow behind-the-scenes updates and to track the progress of this project after its launch, please visit: godcamerunning.com. We hope you will join us in this experience of God’s relentless love.
This article is featured in the April issue of JOY! Magazine, which is now on sale nationwide! Pick up your copy from any leading supermarket, or read a digital version of this issue here: joygifts.co.za
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Date published: 14/04/2025
Feature image: Alabaster Jar by Lené Pienaar
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