Hey there. If you’ve ever felt that tug deep in your heart to write, paint, sew, build, bake, or just create something that feels like you, I want you to know that you’re not alone. That pull you feel? It might just be the Lord inviting you to step into the gifts He’s placed inside you. Maybe (just maybe) part of finding God’s purpose for your life is following your creative calling – even when it feels scary.
But I get it. Life gets busy. The calendar overflows. And somewhere in the middle of raising kids, holding down jobs, and loving our people well, that creative spark starts to feel like a luxury we either can’t afford or don’t have the time or energy to entertain.
Let’s talk about that. You were made in the image of a Creator. It makes sense, doesn’t it, that our Creator made us to BE creative? And that creative calling isn’t just fluff. It matters. Here are some honest, practical, and grace-filled tips to help you walk that creative path you’ve been thinking about.
Following Your Creative Calling – Even When It Feels Scary
You ARE Creative
Whether you believe it or not. Let’s start right here. So many women say, “Oh, I’m not the creative type.” But can I gently call that what it is? A lie. You were made by a creative God, and He didn’t skip over you when He handed out the good stuff. Whether you create art, meals, memories, or quiet moments of beauty, you’ve got it in you. Creativity is defined as the use of the imagination, and is innate to each of us. It can be strengthened with repeated use, just like a muscle.
I asked my friend, Kate, how following her creative calling feeds her soul. She replied,
Being a creative, solving problems and pursing what I feel called to do is just who I am. Its a part of every fiber of my being and although it often brings big time challenges it also is the key to freedom for me. I get to live the life I live because I don’t quit, I pivot and I listen to what I feel called to do even when I’m really really scared. – Kate Brockmeyer – Off the Page CoLearning
How creativity is applied is not and should not be limited to the arts. I think that is where people get confused, because they think, I don’t paint or I don’t play an instrument, so I’m not creative. That is simply not true. I have another brother who is an artist and is incredibly skilled with a drawing pencil, paintbrush, and many graphics programs. People look at his artwork and say, “Man, you’re talented!” I have another brother who built an entire motorcycle from the ground up using spare parts. That is also creative and requires great talent. It just looks different.
When Creative Calling Leads to Career
Many people doubt their creativity. Especially those who are following their creative calling into a career. Chelsea Tamplin, of Fine Art of Eden, shared her poem, “Crowned Queen,” in response to my question about how she deals with doubt about her creativity.
I asked Jennifer Quinn, a photographer from Southwest Missouri, “What does it mean to you to be able to follow your creative calling?” She replied,
Following my creative calling means recognizing and honoring a divine gift. For a long time, my artistic talents felt scattered until photography emerged as my specific path. I consistently pray for protection and the clarity to witness the art God is revealing through my lens. As a photographer, it means stepping into unknown spaces, often alone with valuable equipment, and trusting in a higher power. Each unique wedding couple I encounter reinforces my curiosity and faith in God’s ongoing plan for my creative work.~ Jennifer Quinn, Jennifer Quinn Photography,
Make Space For It
If you’re going to walk in your creative calling as a career, you have to make space for it. Even if it’s just a little bit every day, you have to walk in it. You don’t have to write a novel by next Friday. You don’t have to sell a painting or start a podcast. But do one small thing that brings your creativity to life. Doodle in the margin of your planner. Write a prayer in your journal. Snap a photo of something that catches your eye. You’ll be surprised how these tiny habits start to add up.
Don’t Wait Until You’re Not Scared
We like to tell ourselves we’ll start once we feel ready. But what if you never feel 100% ready? Do it scared. Do it messy. Do it while your hands shake a little. God doesn’t call the fearless. He calls the willing.
Give Perfection the Boot
I know, easier said than done. But listen—your worth is not tied to how “good” your project turns out. You’re not your blog post. You’re not your batch of cookies. You’re not your first draft. The world won’t end if your lines aren’t straight or your words don’t come out quite right. Keep creating anyway.
Your Path Doesn’t Have To Look Like Hers
Stop looking at her, whoever she is. Comparison is a creativity killer. There’s no one-size-fits-all here. If your calling feels quiet, it’s still holy. If your gifts are behind-the-scenes, they’re still needed. Lean into what you feel led to do, even if it looks different from what everyone else is doing.
Redefine What Success Means To YOU
The world wants you to chase followers, fame, and fancy numbers. But maybe success looks like peace. Maybe it looks like connection. Maybe it’s just showing up, creating something beautiful, and offering it back to God. That’s enough.
Photo © Jennifer Quinn Photography, used with permission
Because she’s one of my favorite local creatives, I asked Chelsea to share about following her creative calling even when it’s scary, and she shared this.
Striving to be the best is generally an endless pursuit. There will always be someone more experienced, more knowledgeable, more gifted, etc. What if our competition wasn’t our peers, but instead, who we were yesterday. If I am at the same level in 10 years, 5 years or even 2 years that I am today, then I count that as a fail or at least a significant waste of time. Not just in our talents, but our emotional health, our relationships, our physical wellness, our habits.. sure we experience cycles of struggles and periods of needing to rest, that’s not what I’m referring to. It’s the choosing to stay stagnant.. There are two people in my race to a better life, my current self and my past self, I plan to win every time. ~ Chelsea Tamplin, of Fine Art of Eden
Protect Your Yes
Your time is precious, and your energy even more so. If you say yes to everything, your creativity will always get the leftovers. Make room. Say no to some good things so you can say yes to the right ones. Create space to breathe, think, pray, and make. One of my favorite books is The Best Yes by Lysa Terkeurst, and she has so much good stuff to say on this subject. Get it and read it. You’ll thank me for it.
I asked Jennifer, “How do you prioritize following your creative calling while also protecting time with your family?”
I take a proactive approach to scheduling. With the help of some networking friends, I’ve implemented a system where all birthdays and major holidays are immediately marked as “booked” in my calendar. I also plan our family vacation weeks a full year in advance, essentially blocking out that time first. This gives me a large-scale view of the year ahead and ensures our important family moments are protected.
After mapping out those essential family commitments, I then look at the remaining open days and intentionally schedule “me days”. These are crucial for my own well-being and creative recharge. They involve simple but restorative rituals like wearing a big fluffy robe, enjoying a favorite mocktail, and indulging in face and hair masks, along with doing my nails. It’s all about refreshing and recharging, much like the advice I recently heard: “Put your own oxygen mask on first before helping others.” This disciplined approach allows me to fully engage in my creative work when I am working, knowing that my family time is secure and my personal needs are met. ~ Jennifer Quinn, Jennifer Quinn Photography
Find Your People
God didn’t mean for us to do this alone. Surround yourself with encouragers—people who believe in your vision and cheer you on when you hit a wall. Whether it’s a small group, an online community, or a creative buddy down the street, find the folks who speak life into you.
Speak Truth Over Yourself
Some days the doubt will come knocking. On those days, preach to yourself. Write down the promises God has given you. Stick them on your bathroom mirror or by your desk. Remember: You are chosen. You are equipped. You are enough in Him.
Plan, Pray, and Take The Next Step
Creativity isn’t all whimsy and glitter. It takes planning, effort, and sometimes a good old-fashioned spreadsheet. Don’t be afraid to dream and do. Set goals, pray over them, and take the next faithful step. Then keep taking those steps.
One creative genius I admire is Whitney of Breezy Acres Flower Farm in Henagar, Alabama. Whitney is a first-generation farmer, and her flowers are amazing. I’ve watched her journey into her flower business from afar and been so incredibly inspired time and time again to see her doing what she loves – growing pretty things. I only wish I lived in her neighborhood, because her flowers would grace my table on the regular. Instead, they grace my feed. She recently shared,
Consistency is truly underrated. If you love something, you have to keep going. Instant gratification is absolutely not a thing with flower farming. Some seeds don’t bloom for an entire year, but if you don’t plant the seeds, you’ll never get to enjoy the flowers. In Dec 2021, I planted 50 peonies and this is the first year I will harvest more than a handful of stems.
Keep going. Keep planting the seeds. ~ Whitney, Breezy Acres Flower Farm
And that, my friends, is so very true. Plant the seeds or you’ll never enjoy the harvest.
Invite God Into Your Creativity
Here’s the beautiful thing… your creativity is an act of worship. When you create something from your heart, you reflect the heart of your Creator. Invite Him into it. Pray before you begin. Ask Him to use your gifts for His glory.
Photo © Jennifer Quinn Photography, used with permission
Celebrate Along The Way.
You don’t have to wait until it’s finished or perfect to celebrate. Every step forward is worth rejoicing over. Every small act of courage counts. Don’t miss the joy in the journey just because you haven’t arrived.
Kate recently shared this…
Some time you should just stop and look around and think to yourself “If I had quit this wouldn’t exist.”
And that my friends is so powerful.
So the moral of the story is don’t quit. Even when it’s hard and you want too or you don’t think you can keep going.
Don’t quit. One day you’ll be able to look back and realize because you didn’t – you created greatness for yourself and those around you.
– Kate Brockmeyer – Off the Page CoLearning
Friend, if God has placed a creative desire in your heart, He will make a way for it to grow. It might not be flashy. It might not come easy. But it will be worth it.
The world doesn’t need more polished perfection. It needs your honest, faithful, beautifully imperfect offering. Keep going. Keep creating. And remember, the Author of your story is cheering you on every step of the way.
Let’s create with Him, for Him, and through Him.
You’ve got this. And I’m cheering you on, too.
If you’ve made it this far and you still think you don’t have a creative bone in your body, let me say I understand that. Maybe you just haven’t found your medium.
As Chelsea said,
I don’t believe the gift of an artist is necessarily the ability to paint or draw, though that’s what I was led to believe for the majority of my life. Instead, I believe the gift of an artist lies in our ability to see beyond the surface. It’s the way we view the world. The gift of an artist is our ability to see things with clarity and depth that goes beyond that of the average person.
For some, it is with a paintbrush, for some with a camera lens, for some with the words on a page. For my husband, who is very technical and analytical, it is with wires and lights and sound (which make very little sense to me), but it works when everyone can hear the service well, and the service goes off without a hitch on Sunday.
Maybe you do recognize your creativity and you’ve chosen not to follow it into a career path but choose to pursue it in your leisure time instead. That’s fine, too. I celebrate that.
Can I offer another word of encouragement? Support the creatives in your life that have chosen to pursue their creative journey into a career! They may never say it, but creatives need your support. They NEED it. It’s hard to be a creative. Creatives can feel like they are floundering because of fear of judgment, fear of failure, lack of confidence, and the pressure to be original. Words of encouragement go a LONG way. Supporting their artwork, their poetry, their music, is huge by buying a print, buying the booking, buying the single is also huge. Sharing their work is also invaluable. Also, finds gifts for creative and artsy people that they can use in their creativity is huge. A new lens or the perfect camera bag? A gift card to their favorite supply store? Help with publishing fees? Studio rental for their next song? That’s the kind of support that they won’t easily forget.
While creatives that find their value in Christ may face fewer battles than those who don’t, I think that creatives might face more battles in general.
So check out these creatives that inspire me and whose work I truly appreciate. I’ve mentioned a few already, but here’s a few more… Lydia Ingegneri is a songwriter and worship leader who has been leading people into God’s presence through dynamic and passionate worship since her teen years. Her song, Oh My Soul, is often on loop, in my playlist. Micah Lee is a singer and performing artist from St. Louis. His new single, Breakthrough, is pretty amazing. Angelica Welker is an up-and-coming artist on the music scene with a brand-new single called Criminal of Criminals. The harmonies on this single are beautiful.
Beena McMahan, of BeenzMCreative, is an artist and a muralist in St. Charles whose artwork brings joy to everyone. I have one of her prints, and she has taught my son. She is amazing in both artistry and spirit.
I mentioned Lori of The Hazel Daisy Co in my Gymnastics Gift Ideas article a while back. Her headbands and scrunchies are the cutest and I’m told they don’t give you a headache. I don’t wear headbands, so I can’t personally vouch for that , but my kiddo has had the scrunchie she bought for several years, and it still holds up, so it’s well-made.
I’ll probably come back and add a few creative people who’s work I appreciate as I think of them. Just because I love supporting other creatives where I can.
Also, as a parent, you want be sure to nurture the creativity in kids. If you homeschool like me, you can include art in your homeschool even if you’re not artsy. You can do art classes online, you can a local co-op, or try a microschool like my friend Kate runs. Her classes are not just off the page; they are out of the box.
I’m in the process of editing a devotional specifically designed for cultivating creativity. I’ll come back and share that here, as well, once it’s ready for publishing.
Blessings as you create!
