Did you know that your inner artist can bring you closer to Jesus? Or that your creativity can spur growth in your relationship with Him?
Sounds crazy, but it’s true!
Whether you draw or bake, sing or build homes, practicing your creativity does more than just create new things. It also generates crazy positive ripple effects in your relationship with Jesus.
Join me as I share exactly what those are - while giving you three wonderful reasons to further unleash your inner, God-given artist!
Show Notes:
Intro
Well, hello there friend! Welcome to today’s episode! Wherever you are, I hope it’s sunny and warm like it is here. We had dark, gloomy skies and persistent rain for three days. Not exactly great for one’s mood. But today, it’s finally sunny and it just makes such a big difference. So I hope you’re having wonderful weather where you are, too.
Alright, so today I am going to talk about creativity in a way that you may not have heard before. If you’ve been listening to the podcast for a while, then you know that - as a highly creative person myself - I love to talk about creativity. And today is going to be no exception.
The approach, however, is going to be a bit different. Because instead of focusing on creativity in the sense of how we can use it for others…I’m going to focus on how being creative helps to grow your relationship with Jesus and your Heavenly Father.
And on one hand, that might sound like a crazy statement. But maybe it’s not so crazy. Because God is a creator, right? In fact, that’s how the Bible opens. “In the beginning God created…” right? God’s creativity is the first attribute that He reveals about Himself.
So is it really surprising that being creative, or practicing our God-given creativity, would have effects that bring us closer in relationship with Him? In ways that go beyond the simple fact that we’re creating (albeit on a much smaller scale) like Him?
When we give ourselves permission to unleash our creativity, we unleash more than just color, shape, notes, walls, or whatever it is that we build. We’re aligning ourselves with a major attribute of who God is…which means we’re aligning with some very specific - and amazing - things.
What are these things? And how exactly do they draw us closer to God and Jesus? Well, I’m so glad you asked!
First….
1) Unleashing your creativity helps to keep you childlike
Why is this important? Or, how does this help you grow closer to Jesus? What does being child-like have to do with our faith or relationship with Jesus?
As Christians, we follow Jesus. We place our trust in our Savior and our Heavenly Father. In addition, as we are constantly in the process of becoming more Christ-like, and less about ourselves, we must lay aside our pride, desires, expectations, etc.
In other words, it becomes less about us and more about Him.
And within that, or alongside that (depending on how you want to look at it), we must trust. We have faith. We learn to enter situations without a clear or complete picture of things; without a plan; without an inkling of what Jesus is planning to do or how He’s going to make it happen or come through for us.
We faithfully put one foot in front of the other, not knowing what’s going to happen.
…kind of like when we create something.
Think about it. Sometimes, we may know exactly what we’re going to create. And it might come out perfectly. But most of the time, we simply have that creative desire - and we don’t know what the finished product is going to be yet. We don’t know how it’s going to end.
We simply have that strong desire to pick up our sketchpad and pencils…and it isn’t until the hand moves that we learn what we’re creating. It’s not until we start designing the interior of a living room that we glean what exactly it’s going to look like. It’s not until we get out all the possible ingredients that we discover what we’re baking.
It’s not until I sit down to outline a podcast episode, and the Holy Spirit guides my hands as I type, that I know what exactly it’s going to entail.
Creating is not knowing. Creating is trusting that the unknown will become known. It’s almost as if every creative project is a mini lesson in how to trust Jesus…whether the thing we’re creating will be used for Kingdom purposes or not.
And it’s kinda funny to realize that when we’re painting, coloring, or writing, part of the fun is not knowing what it’s going to be until the end. But when we think about stepping out in faith, or trusting Jesus, we don’t think of fun. Instead, we tend to focus on all the worldly variables and what ifs. Forgetting that the Creator of this world, who loves us dearly, can create anything He wants for us. The world isn’t logistics to God so much as His canvas.
But we forget about that perspective and the possibilities that come with it. Which brings me to my second point….
2) When we create, we’re allowing ourselves to dream of new possibilities
Jesus has so many things that He wants to do. In your life, in my life, and (through both of us) the world.
God has big dreams for us. He has big dreams who we become as we grow in Him. He has big dreams for what He wants us to do and how He wants us to help impact the Kingdom. And, I truly believe, He also wants us to have fun dreams. Because our God is not all work and no play. And what good dad doesn’t spoil His kids once in a while with some fun?
But, sister…we have to dream with Him. And that means we need to be open to new possibilities. That’s what dreaming is, right? I’m currently here, and here is great, but what else is out there? What else can I do? Where else can Jesus take me? What can He open up that no one else can?
And God works in His own ways, right? He opens doors that no one else can. He makes connections we would never be capable of. He provides in ways that blow our minds. Etc, etc.
We need to train ourselves to be open to new possibilities. And you know what’s a great way to help train for that? Unleashing our creativity!
Because, like we just talked about a minute ago, we usually have no idea what our end creation is going to look like. We might have a rough idea. An inkling. But usually, between when we start, there’s a lot of unknown. It’s just how the creative process works. (And it’s part of the fun.)
But along with that, when we begin there’s also a lot of possibilities. What are we going to sketch when we pick up that pencil? What type of podcast episode are we going to produce? What will end up being the subject of our artwork? What topic are we going to write a song about?
We pick up our creative instrument of choice, despite the unknown, and embrace the possibilities.
That’s how we need to be with Jesus. We don’t know exactly what He’s doing or creating…but we embrace the possibilities for something new because we trust Him. We rest in His character.
You know, in the last episode I shared about some sensitive issues that Jesus is working on in my life. A few days ago, I got thrown yet another curve ball.
Long story short, my apartment was sold a few weeks ago. My neighbor’s lease is up for renewal in a few months and, on Friday, she got the anticipated letter with the renewal rates (and texted me a photo of it). The new owners are raising the rent $300/month.
My lease is set to renew in August. And since we have the same type of apartment, I can only assume that my letter will have the same offer. Which is a crazy increase - and one that I can’t afford. And even if I could, I would rather use that money to build my savings, pay down debt, etc.
It saddens me because I really, really love where I live. Jesus completely blessed me with this apartment. The fact that it’s an end unit which means I have quiet. I have a balcony that looks over a peaceful courtyard. One one side, I have direct access to a road with all the shops I need on it. On the other side is a neighborhood where I can walk Hobbs, my Greyhound, which is key for both of us.
So getting this news on Friday, which is basically akin to the fact that I’m going to have to say good-bye to a place I’ve loved and also deal with the hassle of moving, is sad.
And I could get mad at Jesus. I could rail at Him for quote/unquote “taking this away from me.” I could let myself worry about all of the details such as finding a new place to live; affording movers; all the things.
Or, I can look at the new and exciting possibilities. Because I know my God loves me. He’s made it very clear in recent months that He wants me to start dreaming big in general. So I have to believe that this move is in alignment with that.
I need to stay focused on - and remain open to - the new possibilities that He has for me. And that goes beyond just a new set of four walls.
Thirdly….
3) When we create, it helps to build both trust and vulnerability
When we create something - whether it’s a song, a book, the ultimate birthday cake - we are trusting that there will be an end result. That something will emerge during the process.
And often, this requires that we push aside the fear of failure. Of things not turning out in the way we’d like them to - or to the specific standard that we wish.
Instead, we trust the process. Or, if we’re partnering with Jesus on a creative project, we trust Him to guide us. To get us to that end result; the final creation.
At the same time, when we create we’re also being vulnerable, right? Vulnerability is at the heart of creativity in several ways. For one thing, we’re putting ourselves out there where people can critique and review, formally or informally, as everyone has an opinion.
We typically put a lot of who we are into what we create. Our personality. Our stories. Our struggles. Our fears. Our triumphs. Our testimonies. Our beliefs.
And simply stepping out into the unknown, and trusting the creative process, is its own vulnerability.
Where else are trust and vulnerability important? Or should I say, in what relationship?
I’ve already touched on trusting God a bit earlier when it comes to dreaming with Him. But it’s a common subject, right? Bible verses, sermons, podcasts…trusting God is a key part of the relationship.
But so is being vulnerable.
The Merriam-Webster definition of “vulnerable” is “capable of being physically or emotionally wounded.” When we open ourselves up, and let ourselves be vulnerable, it’s scary. Because we fear or expect to be hurt - usually emotionally.
Jesus, though, as we know, doesn’t want to hurt us. But He may, from time to time, require or want us to open parts of ourselves up to Him so that He can transform us. Or heal us from past wounds.
Or take us to new possibilities.
Like a painting, Jesus may ask us to open up and express ourselves to Him. So He can get in there and take something not so healthy or great and either remove it from the painting or turn it into part of the masterpiece.
Again, God is the Creator. And He’s constantly creating this masterpiece of our lives. But we need to trust Him and open up to Him when the time is right. When He calls us to.
And unleashing our own creativity, and learning to trust the process, and be vulnerable, is a way to practice that. Because guess what? Not everyone is going to hate your song or your book. There is going to be at least one person who is drawn to your creative work…who is healed by it…or moved by it…or no longer feels alone…or feels inspired or happy…and that, in turn, shows us what positive things can come from creativity.
Which, in turn, we can use in our relationship with Jesus. In those moments when He calls us to trust, and step faithfully into His process, and be vulnerable with Him, so He can create something wonderful not just for us individually…but for others.
Wrap-up
Sister, creativity is so where it’s at. It’s so, so powerful. I hope this episode has (a) shown you how your creativity is so closely related to your relationship with Jesus, and (b) has inspired you to create more…and more freely.
We are meant to create…whatever that looks like. For others, yes, but also for ourselves.
I pray that your creativity overflows and knows no bounds! And that it grows you ever closer to Jesus! Cheers!