For the Creative Soul

Encouragement for the Lost Creative Soul By Eric Copeland

Every wonder what God is doing in your life? Ever say “Why would he give me the ability to do this awesome thing like sing, write, paint, dance, plan, decorate, or create if He didn't show me how to use it?” Or maybe He has shown you glimpses, but you feel like there should be more? There are so many near misses, where you almost reached the success you wanted or thought you should have, to see things just kind of fizzle out. Welcome to the club.

In our messed-up world of results and goal setting, creative people often place the yoke of importance on the wrong things. Unrealistic expectations can be a silent tool of our ancient enemy to make us feel like failures. That no matter what we do, we will never be as good as that famous artist, that person who’s better than us on the praise team, or someone at work or school who can do anything with ease.

Inside each of us is something very special; we are God's unique tools. He made you with a plan in mind that does not match someone else's plan, or version of success.

Let that sink in a moment. Quit reading and look out the window and say out loud the word “unique.” It doesn’t matter if someone looks at you like you’re crazy. Hey, you’re unique, tell them to get a life.

There is something unique in what you are working on right now, plan to work on, or that you just created. That work will somehow, someday touch someone in a deep and meaningful way. Maybe it will be something that changes that person’s life forever!

The music you make, art you create, impression you have from the stage, or difference you make in just one person's life is God's way. That mysterious way He has of taking your talent, and finding a way to change the world, or just someone's world. We have to hold fast to that! We are created to create by the Creator, and He knows what He's doing! Let’s get to some examples.

Are you a singer? Do you dream of taking your talent and ministry to a high level like that of a major Christian recording artist? Guess, what? That road is NOT closed to you if God has called you there. If you feel in your heart that to start your own music ministry is what God has made you for, then you will have heard about it from friends, family, church, and school.

Do you feel called to serve as a music director at a church, when you have always worked at a secular job? You know you have the music ability to be helpful to a church. This just in: There ARE ways to get there from here. You CAN do it. God is not the God of the maybe! He is the God of the impossible. It may seem impossible to transition your life to a life as a church minister, but it is NOT impossible.

Maybe you are already serving at a church, maybe just on the worship team. But you have ideas, goals, and things that you’d like to improve on or grow as an artist. Do it! Go to someone, and say, “I want to be better, grow, suggest a song, or a drama piece that I think would bless our church.” That’s how churches grow, and how people in ministry get to a new level of serving!

OK, so what do you do to take action? Easy. Do something.

Make a point this week to go that next mile on some dream you have. Don’t give up. Instead, turn your eyes up, and realize God made you especially to be exactly who you are.

"That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are quite small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever." 2 Cor. 4:16-18

Be encouraged! Be yourself. Be creative!

Eric Copeland is a gifted producer, songwriter, worship leader, author and speaker. You can learn more about him and his ministry, and seek more such encouragement at: www.ForTheCreativeSoul.com